PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya tourists are once again raising alarms over a group of about 10 men and women near the Bali Hai Pier who aggressively solicit drivers to park in their private lots—charging exorbitant fees—while ignoring the city’s official, affordable parking options.
According to complaints received on August 11, this group uses megaphones to call out especially to out-of-town visitors, directing them away from Pattaya’s automated parking building nearby, which charges only 30 baht per hour (or a daily flat rate of 250 baht), has 24-hour security, and offers protection from the weather. Instead, the scammers claim the official lot is “full” or “not accessible for low cars” and push tourists to park in their private lots charging as much as 300 baht per day—even if just parked for a few hours.
This problem has persisted for years despite repeated attempts at enforcement. The city offers free “Blue Zone” parking on weekends and public holidays, with signage posted clearly, yet the gang continues their predatory tactics unabated.
During the recent long holiday weekend, the scam resurfaced, prompting some tourists to record video evidence and send it to the media, demanding swift and serious action from authorities.
One frustrated visitor shared, “If the officials really wanted to solve this, it wouldn’t be difficult at all, right, Mr. Mayor? Yesterday I drove past the automated parking entrance, was told it was full, but I didn’t believe it and parked inside the building comfortably as usual.”
This recurring issue remains a blot on Pattaya’s reputation, and tourists urge local authorities to finally crack down on these parking scammers and protect visitors from exploitation.
