Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand (Coordinates: 12°55′39″N, 100°52′31″E), about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chon Buri. The city of Pattaya is a self governing special municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue and Na Kluea and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha, Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri. However, it remains mostly a tourist city, with very light industry. It is one of the largest centers of tourism in Thailand, with some 5.4 million visitors arriving in 2005. The vast majority of tourists that visit Pattaya are male, in groups or on their own, due to the town's world-famous sex industry, in which girls and men of many ages are available as companions for, by Western standards, very cheap prices. The town also offers many luxury hotels, beautiful (though somewhat polluted) beaches, friendly people, excellent shopping, reasonable prices and a wide variety of nearby tourist attractions.
However, Pattaya is second only to Bangkok in high rise buildings, as many condos for foreign residents are built, and has a modest skyline. The city's economy benefits from its relative proximity to Bangkok, as opposed to other tourist destinations.
Source: 
|
