PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya officials are stepping up efforts to manage homeless areas, aiming to protect visitors and maintain safety in public spaces. Yet long-term residents and expats remain skeptical that the city can truly eliminate homelessness anytime soon.
Many expats point to a simple reality: the homeless population is resilient, visible, and deeply embedded in the city’s social fabric. “I see that homeless guy every day. He was there yesterday. He’ll be back tomorrow,” one resident noted. For them, the issue isn’t a lack of effort, but a combination of limited strategies and cultural factors.
Some argue that the police have no long-term plan to reduce street homelessness. Patrols may move people along temporarily, but enforcement alone doesn’t address root causes. “The police have no strategy,” one expat said. “They can’t make people disappear.”
Others suggest that Thai society’s kindness and tolerance also play a role. Many Thais see helping or tolerating street dwellers as a moral duty, even in tourist areas, which can make strict enforcement socially complicated. “It’s not just policy—it’s cultural,” a long-term visitor explained.
The issue is further complicated by Pattaya’s dependence on tourism. Officials often prioritize visible safety measures to protect visitors rather than tackling systemic social problems. “Visitors need protection from some officials, not the homeless,” one expat joked, highlighting the focus on appearance over long-term solutions.
Expats tend to conclude that homelessness in Pattaya is not something that will simply vanish. While officials can manage certain areas to protect tourists, the deeper social and economic issues driving street life remain largely unaddressed. For now, Pattaya may succeed at controlling the immediate environment—but a true solution, expats believe, is unlikely in the near term.
Earlier Report: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-manages-homeless-areas-to-protect-visitors-amid-calls-for-lasting-solutions-516166
