Famed ecologist hails Pattaya’s recovery after break from tourism
Pattaya beach is cleaner than it has been for the past two decades after recovering from the heavy impacts of tourism, said prominent marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat.
The water is clear and pristine while trash has almost completely disappeared from the sand, said Asst Prof Thon, who has over 100 books and several marine conservation projects to his name. Pattaya beach was now as beautiful as he remembered it 15 to 20 years ago before the latest boom in tourism, he added.
With local hotels offering big discounts on accommodation, Thon recommended that people grab the chance to visit the seaside city while it was at its prettiest.
Along with the beaches, the city’s markets are also free of crowds and more organised, he said, adding that visitors could help local businesses recover from the impacts of Covid-19.
Speaking as a former adviser to Pattaya authorities, he said the return of tourism should be carefully controlled so that the city and its marine environment remained clean and beautiful.