PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya City Council has approved a THB 9.665 million budget to install 141 additional CCTV cameras at junctions and intersections across Pattaya’s communities, with officials saying the project will improve public safety and deter crime. The proposal was presented by Deputy Pattaya Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkan during the fourth meeting of the first ordinary session of the 2026 Pattaya City Council.
The additional cameras will be installed at junctions and intersections considered important for monitoring communities and areas with large numbers of residents and tourists. The project is overseen by Pattaya City’s Communications Division under the Strategy and Budget Office, which manages the city’s CCTV network.
Council member Wasan Sukkhee supported the role of CCTV under Pattaya’s Smart Living and Smart City policies but questioned whether buying the new cameras outright would provide the best long-term value. He said more than 2,000 previously purchased CCTV cameras had reportedly remained operational at only around 30%, while the city’s current rental system had an reported operational rate of up to 99%, partly because the service provider is responsible for maintenance and repairs.
Wasan also questioned whether the 141 proposed locations had been selected using previous consultant studies identifying the most suitable camera positions for comprehensive coverage and value for money. He called for greater attention to schools, noting that some older cameras at Pattaya City schools 8–10 are no longer operational, while schools 1–7 using rented systems still have blind spots requiring additional cameras.
Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet explained that the rental model has the advantage of having a dedicated service provider responsible for repairs, with problems required to be addressed within 48 hours. However, current rental contracts run for three years, meaning providers must recover equipment depreciation over a relatively short period, contributing to higher rental costs.
Poramet said Pattaya is considering extending CCTV rental contracts from three to five years to reduce costs and improve value for money, with discussions to be held with provincial authorities.
He added that both rental and maintenance-contract (MA) arrangements provide for system upkeep, but rental contracts combine equipment and maintenance under a single agreement, while MA involves hiring a separate company to maintain the system.
