PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City Council has called for a major redesign of Bali Hai Pier to improve one of the city’s busiest gateways for tourists and develop the area into a new landmark. The issue was raised during the Pattaya City Council’s regular meeting on September 29, when council member Methakrit Sunthornrot asked the administration about plans to improve the pier and its surrounding landscape.
He said Bali Hai Pier serves large numbers of residents and tourists and should be upgraded to create a more attractive, orderly and appropriate gateway to Pattaya’s offshore attractions.
Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the city had spent the past two years repairing and reinforcing the pier structure and installing roofing to protect passengers from sun and rain while improving safety and convenience.
For the next stage, Pattaya plans to commission a study and design for the redevelopment of the pier area and a seawall damaged by Typhoon Vamco in September 2015. The project will cover Bali Hai Pier and surrounding areas, with the aim of improving the landscape and addressing long-standing problems around the boat berthing area.
Poramet said specialist companies would be invited to study and design the project. Pattaya City Council members would also be given an opportunity to contribute ideas and help establish the project’s terms of reference (TOR) before the proposal is submitted to the council for consideration of the budget for the study and design.
The mayor also said Pattaya, Banglamung district and other agencies were coordinating on land bordering the Waterfront condominium project. A notice has been posted requiring the private occupants of the area to leave by October 31, 2026, allowing the city to reorganize the site and improve the landscape around Bali Hai Pier in accordance with the law.
Bali Hai Pier is a major marine transport point linking Pattaya with Koh Larn and other offshore destinations. Pattaya’s own planning documents identify the pier as an important tourism passenger port. The proposed redesign comes after earlier work to improve the pier’s passenger facilities, including a project to strengthen the passenger pontoon.
