PATTAYA, Thailand – The new LED displays on Walking Street are hard to miss. Towering 12 meters high and 9 meters wide, with dazzling 3D effects like dolphins leaping off the screen, they promise to make Pattaya feel like a world-class tourist city. City officials celebrated the launch on August 23, with pomp and ceremony, highlighting the signs’ energy-efficient technology and multimedia capabilities.
But for many expats and long-term visitors, the spectacle doesn’t hide what’s been missing for years. Comments online reveal a mix of awe and frustration. “This should have been updated ages ago,” one wrote. “It’s a world-class tourist spot, not just a karaoke sign.” Others pointed to potholes, broken road covers, and crowded, uneven sidewalks—issues that affect daily life far more than giant screens. Several noted that Walking Street feels different post-pandemic, with fewer Western tourists and a heavier presence of Indian visitors, changing the vibe they remember from a decade ago.
The new LED signs are undeniably impressive, but expats hope city planners won’t stop at aesthetics. They want practical improvements that make Pattaya safe, walkable, and genuinely world-class—from smoother streets and better pedestrian facilities to clearer signage and accessible public spaces.
For now, the lights and 3D dolphins may draw attention and Instagram photos, but many long-term residents are asking a simple question: can Pattaya make everyday life as polished as its flashy new screens?
