Daily news digest covering local events, expat life, property, tourism, and everything happening in Pattaya — curated and summarised for you.
A 29-year-old Thai man was physically assaulted by a foreign tourist in the early hours of Monday morning after politely warning him that smoking cannabis on Pattaya Beach is illegal. The incident occurred near the beachfront area and was reported to Pattaya police. The foreign tourist fled the scene before officers arrived. CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify the suspect. Pattaya authorities have reminded both locals and tourists that public cannabis consumption remains prohibited under Thai law.
Read full storyOver 2,100 runners took part in the Ramayana Run 2026 at Ramayana Water Park in Sattahip, Chonburi, celebrating the event's 10th anniversary. The race promoted health, fitness, and family tourism in the Eastern Seaboard region. Participants from across Thailand and several international countries joined the event, which featured multiple race categories including 5K, 10K, and a fun run for families. Ramayana Water Park continues to position itself as a major venue for sporting events in the Pattaya-Chonburi area.
The atmosphere was electric across Pattaya's entertainment venues on Sunday night as fans packed bars and sports pubs to watch the highly anticipated Manchester United versus Liverpool match. United secured a thrilling 3-2 victory, sending the Pattaya expat community into celebration mode. Walking Street, Second Road, and Jomtien bars all reported packed houses with standing room only. The match drew one of the largest viewing crowds seen in Pattaya's sports bars this year, with fans from both clubs creating a festival atmosphere throughout the city.
Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngamphichet presided over a press conference to celebrate the achievements of the Thai windsurfing team following their success at the Asian Beach Games. The team's performance has brought significant positive attention to Thailand's coastal sports credentials. The Mayor highlighted Pattaya's role as a hub for water sports and expressed ambitions to host future international beach sports events. The Asian Beach Games success is expected to boost sports tourism to the Pattaya region.
Pattaya's Deputy Mayor welcomed a delegation of business leaders participating in the CEO IDOL programme for a strategic exchange focused on Pattaya's future development. Discussions covered investment opportunities in tourism infrastructure, smart city initiatives, and sustainable development projects. The delegation toured key development zones including the Pattaya waterfront redevelopment area and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) adjacent zones. Pattaya is actively positioning itself as a premium investment destination within the EEC framework, with several major projects in the pipeline for 2026-2028.
Hotel bookings across Thailand, including Pattaya, have seen a significant decline as the ongoing Middle East conflict and rising international airfares deter long-haul travellers. Industry insiders report booking rates down 15-25% compared to the same period last year for European and Middle Eastern markets. Pattaya hoteliers are responding by targeting domestic Thai tourists and short-haul visitors from China, South Korea, and India. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched promotional campaigns to offset the impact, while local businesses are urged to diversify their customer base.
Pattaya City has earned top marks for transparency and anti-corruption governance for the third consecutive year, receiving an 'Excellent Pass' rating in the national assessment. The achievement reflects ongoing efforts by Pattaya's municipal administration to improve public accountability, streamline procurement processes, and enhance citizen services. Mayor Poramese Ngamphichet credited the result to staff training programmes and digital governance initiatives introduced over the past three years. The rating is expected to strengthen investor confidence in Pattaya's business environment.
Pattaya police have arrested members of a Nigerian-led money mule network involved in sophisticated romance scams targeting foreign nationals. The gang used fake online profiles to build romantic relationships with victims before convincing them to transfer money through Thai bank accounts controlled by the network. Several Thai nationals were also arrested for allegedly providing their bank accounts to the criminal group. Victims from Europe, North America, and Australia are believed to have lost significant sums. Police are urging the public to be cautious of online relationships that quickly escalate to financial requests.
Thai police have arrested a Swedish-Finnish dual national for allegedly hacking into a Pattaya hotel's guest database and using the stolen information to run a scam targeting hotel guests. The suspect reportedly accessed booking records and contacted guests posing as hotel staff, directing them to make payments to fraudulent accounts. The arrest was made following a joint investigation between Pattaya police and cybercrime units. The hotel has since upgraded its cybersecurity systems. Guests who stayed at the affected property during the relevant period are advised to check their bank statements.
An Indian tourist has reported to Pattaya police that a gold necklace worth approximately 100,000 baht was stolen from him by a group of transgender women on Pattaya Beach. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning near the central beach area. CCTV footage from the beachfront is being reviewed. Pattaya police have issued a reminder to tourists to be vigilant with valuables, particularly late at night in busy tourist areas. The case is under active investigation.
Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngamphichet has praised the highly successful Wan Lai and Songkran Pattaya 2026 festival, which drew crowds exceeding 100,000 people and generated an estimated economic boost of over 1.5 billion baht for the city. The festival, which extended Songkran celebrations beyond the national holiday period, featured water fights, cultural performances, and entertainment across multiple venues. Hotels reported near-full occupancy during the festival period, and restaurants and bars across the city saw record revenues. The success has cemented Pattaya's position as Thailand's premier Songkran destination.
Pattaya police raided a luxury villa and arrested 30 Indian nationals allegedly involved in a sophisticated stock trading scam operation. The gang is accused of using the villa as a base to run online investment fraud targeting victims in India and other countries, promising high returns on fake trading platforms. Equipment including computers, phones, and fake trading software were seized. The operation is part of a broader crackdown on foreign-operated fraud networks using Pattaya as a base. Thai authorities have been working with Interpol to dismantle such operations.