Jomtien: Chaos caused by road construction – tourism in acute danger!

Jomtien: Chaos caused by road construction – tourism in acute danger!

The Jomtien beach promenade in Pattaya, Thailand, is currently being transformed into an urban construction site. Lengthy road work on Jomtien Beach Road and Second Road characterizes the image of the popular beach region. The city administration defends this infrastructure measure, but does not emphasize any clear timeline for completion. In the meantime, residents and business people are complaining about massive negative impacts on their everyday lives and businesses. There is dust, construction rubble and open pits everywhere, endangering the safety of passers-by.

A key aspect is the destroyed or blocked sidewalks, which force pedestrians to walk dangerously close to traffic. In addition, songthaews, an important means of transport in Pattaya, avoid the area or only travel there irregularly, further exacerbating the situation. Managing directors and local entrepreneurs report drastic losses in sales. A bar owner on Soi Whitehouse even describes that he had to record a decline of over 40 percent.

One-way street regulation and its consequences

In March 2024, the one-way system was introduced on Jomtien Beach Road to improve traffic flow during extensive construction work. However, this regulation has made access to shops and restaurants significantly more difficult. Returns to stores often take over 30 minutes, discouraging potential customers. The distances between connecting roads are several kilometers, making detours unavoidable.

The impact of the new traffic routing is also evident on baht bus drivers, who are forced to complete the entire loop, further delaying the pick-up of passengers. Despite the new regulations, many drivers ignore the one-way street signs, which increases the risk of accidents and further stresses the situation.

Long-term perspectives and citizen concerns

The city administration has emphasized that the one-way system is part of a project to improve the beach landscape. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet inspected the construction site on March 11, 2025, where over 80 percent of the work was completed. The comprehensive project includes a 3,528-meter-long drainage system, a three-kilometer pedestrian path and nearly 400 new parking spaces.

Despite these long-term benefits, local business owners are urgently calling for a return to two-way transportation to improve accessibility to their businesses. While some have hope for future infrastructure improvements, many fear for Jomtien's long-term reputation and the existence of small businesses. The discontent among tourists and an active discussion on social media show that the approaching high season could be in danger. The population is concerned that the current construction work and the resulting changes will cause long-term damage to local tourism.

The situation in Jomtien remains tense and it remains to be seen whether the city government will soon respond to the demands of residents and business owners to turn the increasingly negative image of the region. You can find more information about ongoing developments at Pattaya Mail and The farang.