PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City is moving to tighten the organization of speedboat services to Koh Larn after a brawl between boat staff was widely circulated on social media, raising concerns over the impact on Pattaya’s tourism image. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai chaired a meeting at Pattaya City Hall to discuss measures to regulate speedboat operators serving Koh Larn.
Manot said the altercation between speedboat employees, which occurred in late August, had been widely shared online and could damage the image of Pattaya and its tourism industry.
He said clearer controls were therefore needed to regulate speedboat operators and prevent disputes arising from competition for passengers. Under the initial measures, speedboat staff will be prohibited from approaching or soliciting customers in public areas. Passengers will instead be required to purchase tickets at the designated ticket counters operated by each company.
Another measure concerns passenger transport vehicles. Songthaews used to transport passengers will not be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers after 3 p.m., with the aim of reducing competition for customers and easing traffic problems in the area. Officials will also be deployed to monitor the area and prevent further confrontations between operators. Pattaya City police, tourist police and municipal officers will begin patrols and maintain order from 2 p.m. onward.
Marine police and rescue personnel will also conduct checks from 1 p.m., including inspections of boat licenses, boat registrations and the qualifications of boat operators. Manot said the reorganization must take into account the overall operation of the Koh Larn speedboat service rather than focusing on individual operators. He said the speedboat operators’ association would be invited to participate in discussions and work with authorities to find solutions acceptable to all sides.
Government agencies will also check licenses, docking arrangements and business operations to ensure that operators comply with the law. The deputy mayor said the objective was to establish a more standardized speedboat service between Pattaya and Koh Larn, reduce aggressive competition for passengers and prevent disputes between boat employees.
The measures are also intended to reassure tourists and protect the image of Pattaya and Koh Larn, which attract large numbers of visitors throughout the year. Authorities said the new arrangements would be monitored and adjusted where necessary as Pattaya works to bring the busy speedboat service under greater control.
