PATTAYA — Pattaya City is stepping up efforts to regulate restaurant boats, tourist vessels, squid-fishing rafts and squid-fishing café boats in Pattaya Bay as the number of operators continues to rise while available space remains limited.
Authorities are concerned that overcrowding could affect tourist safety and increase the risk of accidents. Pattaya City is working with the Marine Department and other relevant agencies to establish clear operating criteria, with a key policy of preventing the number of operators from exceeding the bay’s capacity.
Wutthisak Rermkij, deputy mayor of Pattaya, chaired a meeting on regulations for restaurant boats, tourist vessels and related businesses in Pattaya Bay. The meeting was attended by government officials, the director of the Marine Department’s Regional Office 6, Pattaya Branch, the chief of the Tourist Police Station, the director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Office 2, Bang Lamung district fisheries officials, and operators of tourist boats, restaurant boats, squid-fishing rafts and squid-fishing cafés.
The meeting followed efforts by Pattaya City’s Environmental Health and Sanitation Division to regulate businesses operating in public areas in line with the Interior Ministry’s 2003 regulations governing the sale of goods in public places.
The continued increase in restaurant boats, squid-fishing rafts and tourist vessels in Pattaya Bay has made it necessary to establish clearer rules that reflect conditions in the area.
Officials discussed measures and operating criteria to ensure businesses comply with relevant laws, regulations and requirements. These cover water safety, the use of public areas and protection of the marine environment, as well as clear operating guidelines for businesses to improve service standards and boost tourists’ confidence.
The regulations will follow the Marine Department’s “Pattaya Model”, a framework for organising tourism and water traffic in Pattaya Bay and around Koh Lan.
The model focuses on clearly zoning swimming areas and navigation routes, separating water-based recreational activities from boat traffic to prevent accidents and improve water safety standards.
Other measures include inspections of vessels and life-saving equipment, ensuring boat operators comply with waterway traffic regulations, and organising piers and passenger pick-up and drop-off points to suit local conditions.
A key concern, however, is the limited space available for businesses.
Pattaya City and the Marine Department previously established designated operating zones in Pattaya Bay under the “Pattaya Model” to ensure that the use of the waterway remained appropriate and safe.
The number of businesses operating in the area has since increased, while available space remains limited. Authorities are concerned that a continued rise in the number of boats and activities could lead to overcrowding and increase the risk of accidents, particularly for activities requiring large areas of water.
The initial approach will therefore focus on preventing the number of operators from exceeding the area’s capacity. Authorities will consider reallocating or adjusting existing zones where necessary to accommodate current operators.
The policy is not intended to significantly expand the designated areas, but rather to prioritise safety and suitability.
Pattaya City will coordinate with the Marine Department, police, marine and coastal resource agencies, fisheries officials and business operators to establish clear and practical regulations.
The authorities also aim to protect the marine environment while supporting the tourism economy, with the goal of developing Pattaya Bay into a safe, well-regulated and sustainable marine tourism destination.
