News Forum - Pattaya travel roadshow to visit Saudi Arabia with PM

[Thaiger]

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed tourism businesses in Pattaya to prepare a travel roadshow for upcoming ministerial visits to Saudi Arabia in order to promote tourism and develop relations between the two nations. Following the directive, governor Yuthasak Supasorn of The Tourism Authority Thailand met with the local entrepreneurs group “One Voice” to reveal the PM’s trip to Saudi Arabia along with cabinet members and TAT officials (of course), although the date has not been set for the visit. The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, informed the PM that he is expecting a strong response from the tourism […]

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[Cathat]

The ladies and bar owners of sin city should be delighted at this good news.hopefully they will welcome them with open arms and legs.

[Pinetree]

14 minutes ago, Cathat said:

welcome them with open arms and legs.

Better turn around,  they do like the chocolate factory, and/or the good old (young) boys.  

[Brownie]

Does Thailand have camels... or goats?  Just asking

[HolyCowCm]

25 minutes ago, Cathat said:

The ladies and bar owners of sin city should be delighted at this good news.hopefully they will welcome them with open arms and legs.

Only the fittest of pole dancers will get an invite.

[HolyCowCm]

10 minutes ago, Pinetree said:

Better turn around,  they do like the chocolate factory, and/or the good old (young) boys.  

There is also plenty of that over yonder in Pattaya.

[TheDirtyDurian]

"Early plans are reportedly in the works to promote Pattaya as a “HUB” for tourism from Saudi Arabia, particularly Islamic tourism, with plenty of halal foods, local mosques, a growing Muslim community, hotels with Muslim-friendly prayer rooms, and family-friendly tourist attractions that are acceptable to Islamic visitors"

I nearly spilled my tea. Who came up with this rubbish ....

[Cathat]

Perhaps I got that a bit wrong, maybe it should be the lady boy's and bar owners should be dancing with glee!

[Sawarot]

This is all very confusing. I understand Saudi Arabia will bring money, but why would he want islam to spread from the south up across the bay to Pattaya? Doesn't the leader have enough problems with the muslims in the south?

[Saunk]

45 minutes ago, Sawarot said:

This is all very confusing. I understand Saudi Arabia will bring money, but why would he want islam to spread from the south up across the bay to Pattaya? Doesn't the leader have enough problems with the muslims in the south?

A bigoted, lame comment.  Where does the article say anything about spreading Islam? The PM is attempting to normalize relations with a country that happens to have a wealthy population that is predominantly Muslim.  Makes sense to provide proper accommodations and touristic options to those tourists.

[Stonker]

7 hours ago, Thaiger said:

... a growing Muslim community, hotels with Muslim-friendly prayer rooms, and family-friendly tourist attractions that are acceptable to Islamic visitors, such as shopping centres, beaches, diverse halal restaurants, waterparks, natural attractions and sports venues.

The one thing visitors from the Middle East don't need are Muslim-friendly prayer rooms or family friendly attractions such as shopping malls, beaches and waterparks - they can get those at home, far better than anything Thailand could possibly offer.

What they can't get which they come for are the other "friendly" attractions that Pattaya offers, although arabs have never been popular and have an even worse reputation with the bar girls and boys even than Indians.

[Sawarot]

2 hours ago, Saunk said:

A bigoted, lame comment.  Where does the article say anything about spreading Islam? The PM is attempting to normalize relations with a country that happens to have a wealthy population that is predominantly Muslim.  Makes sense to provide proper accommodations and touristic options to those tourists.

It makes more sense to develop the areas of Thailand that are already predominantly muslim for muslim tourists. But I am all for making everyone welcome everywhere. Except maybe religious fanatics. 

[Sawarot]

I'd say either the PM wants to bank on the Saudis coming to enjoy what Pattaya is famous for, or he wants to use their expected cultural values and norms to change Pattaya. Why else would he single out that place? He'll be sadly mistaken if it's the latter though. 

[oldschooler]

26 minutes ago, Stonker said:

The one thing visitors from the Middle East don't need are Muslim-friendly prayer rooms or family friendly attractions such as shopping malls, beaches and waterparks - they can get those at home, far better than anything Thailand could possibly offer.

What they can't get which they come for are the other "friendly" attractions that Pattaya offers, although arabs have never been popular and have an even worse reputation with the bar girls and boys even than Indians.

“Little Arabia” opposite Soi Nana had a “specialist” Thai working group who catered only to Arabs. No such luck for Indians though …. Didn’t see how could they could possibly get any decent (or indecent) action. The stink puts everyone off. Banned from all entertainment places in Pattaya.

Worst Tourist reputations seemed to be Israelis (not paying ) & North AfricanArabs (fighting).

Arabs can get it all in Dubai or Egypt or Lebanon. Never understood why they came here to be despised …. just “ different” here  I suppose.

[DontacoXII]

I was under the impression that the Pattaya entertainment style is not in line with Islamic beliefs. Did I miss something or perhaps I’m misinformed?