PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City is taking bold steps to rebrand its most iconic nightlife zone — Walking Street — by installing a futuristic 3D LED entrance sign. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, known as “Mayor Beer,” unveiled the new digital signage as part of an effort to enhance the city’s image and attract more international visitors to the famous nighttime entertainment strip.
While many residents applauded the upgrade as a long-overdue improvement, others pointed out that the project is just the beginning of what’s needed for meaningful transformation. Several citizens took to social media to express their views:
“This is great! Tourists always stop to take photos of the sign before heading into the clubs. The bars inside are improving, but the old, filthy entrance sign was an eyesore for years — glad it’s finally being fixed!”
Another urged further action on the chaotic area in front of the new sign:
“Next, please sort out the predatory motorbike taxi queue that parks right in front of the sign and blocks the walkway. It’s meant to be a place for tourists to walk and take photos, not squeeze past rusty sheet metal on the side!”
Others highlighted traffic concerns and aging infrastructure:
“That spot is already a traffic nightmare. It’s going to be total chaos now.”
“Let’s see how it turns out. But please — this city’s been the same for nearly 20 years. It’s time to step up.”
Calls were also made to clean up tangled power lines and stray dogs in surrounding alleys:
“All those cables are an eyesore when foreigners take pictures — it makes Pattaya look backward.”
“Also help with the stray dogs down the side streets, please.”
Several hoped the sign would become a true nighttime landmark:
“This is a perfect location — like the Central Pattaya intersection and beach access point. Make it a proper landmark.”
Some criticized law enforcement practices that risk alienating tourists:
“Police in front of Central should stop targeting tourists. No other country ambushes tourists bringing money into the economy. Catch them once and they never come back.”
Concerns were raised about crime and safety as well:
“Please do something about the drunks and tourist beatings. It’s scary — I’ve seen it in the news too often.”
And a few residents shared that the sign has already had its moments — both good and bad:
“I passed by twice — once it was brilliantly lit, the other time it was completely dark.”
“Hoping it’ll be a real check-in spot. Make it more colorful, maybe with light on the poles too!”
As Pattaya reinvents itself for a new era of tourism, locals are hopeful that this flashy new sign is more than just lights — but a symbol of deeper change still to come.
