|
|
Pattaya
lies 150 km to the southeast of Bangkok, less than two hours by
road, and stretches for some 15km along the Eastern Seaboard,
Thailand's largest resort, it shares the coast with traditional a
fishing villages, other resorts such as Bang Saen and Rayong, new
industrial centres, the towns of Chonburi and Sriracha, and the port
and naval base of Sattahip. Pattaya beach is a palm-fringed, sandy
bay with a view of coral islands on the horizon. Nearby are other
cliffs and other bays, while inland, the region is rich in
agricultural products including sugar cane, tapioca, rubber, and
fruit trees.
Bangkok occupies a total area of 1,568 square
kilometres on a flatalluvial plain divided by the Cho Phaya
River.Composed of about 50 districts (khets),it is home to one-tenth
of the country's populaion.Thon Buri, a former capital,is now a
district under the administration of the Bangkok Metropolis.
|
|
Pattaya
in the 1960s was just a little fishing village, until a few Bangkok
residents began to take their weekends here and generated a modest
local tourist industry. Even so, the only hotel of any size was the
Nipa Lodge: other accommodation tended towards holiday bungalows and
beach huts. The Vietnam War saw the start of Pattaya's international
reputation, for the fledgling resort was used as an official R&R
centre for the US forces. They were flown into U-Tapao Airport which
was built for American use at the time, and shops, services, bars
and hotel accommodation grew to meet the demand.
Pattaya
is now a city in its own right, with its own mayor and its own
administration. This is not all due to tourism. The government
development programme for the Eastern Seaboard has transformed the
region, and this rapid industrial and commercial expansion has led
to many expatriates coming to live in the area. There is a new
deep-sea port at Laem Chabang, 20 km north of Pattaya with a vast
industrial estate, and another development zone at Map Ta Phut near
Payong to the south. Pattaya City is well located to be a major
business centre serving these two giant industrial communities.
There are five international schools, and four international
hospitals in the area. |
