Pattaya Residents Rally to Defend City's Reputation
Hundreds of Pattaya residents rallied July 3 to defend the city's reputation following critical television coverage, demanding apologies from media and academics they say misrepresented the coastal destination as unsafe for tourists.
On July 3, 2025, Pattaya residents from all sectors—businesspeople, entrepreneurs, local politicians, public figures, baht bus operators, and numerous civil society networks—gathered at the Blue Zone event space in Bali Hai to demonstrate their support for the "SAVE PATTAYA" campaign. The collective action aimed to defend the city's reputation and image after critical coverage in a television program that organizers said could harm Pattaya's standing as an international tourist destination.
During the event, participants voiced their position and called on independent academics and related media figures to apologize to Pattaya residents, taking responsibility for statements and content deemed damaging to the city's image. Local leaders delivered speeches asserting that "Pattaya is not a lawless town and has no mafia," noting the city's electoral history has been peaceful. Organizers urged society to recognize the facts and avoid generalizing the city's image based on potentially misleading information or opinions.
Throughout the event, Pattaya police provided support to ensure the peaceful and lawful expression of public views while maintaining safety.
