For years the authorities in Pattaya have been talking about the need to redefine the legal entertainment zones which would allow businesses operating within these zones to become legally licensed.
The zoning laws in place now are over 20 years old and only describe one area designated as an Entertainment Zone and that's confined to a small area in Central Pattaya, running from Third Road to the Beach and from North Pattaya Road to Bali Hai Pier.
One would think that with all the focus on boosting tourism in Pattaya this would have been a priority years ago. Maybe there's too much tea money at stake...who knows.
Certain areas are currently permitted to operate gogo bars, while others are not, without any clear justification for these controls and decisions. For instance, why is Boyztown permitted to operate gay gogo bars but not Jomtien Complex???
Pattaya Entertainment Zones
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Gaybutton
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Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
Ironically, just one day after posting this topic a meeting was held in Pattaya to discuss revisions to the out-dated Entertainment Zoning. They even mention Jomtien Complex which I think is a good sign.
The Pattaya News article below was posted on Sawatdee:
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Pattaya District Chief Holds Public Hearing to Officially Expand Entertainment Zoning
By Adam Judd
October 18, 2025
On October 17th, 2025, a public hearing was held at the Alcazar Theatre on Pattaya Second Road to discuss the rezoning of areas designated for entertainment venues in Banglamung. The meeting, chaired by District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, brought together representatives from government agencies, private sectors, and entertainment business operators.
Patcharapat revealed that the current zoning regulations, established under a Royal Decree on November 1st, 2002, have been in place for over 23 years. These regulations designated specific areas in Pattaya City for entertainment venues, which at that time were suitable for the city’s landscape and business environment. However, Pattaya’s tourism industry has since grown rapidly, with a large increase in nightlife businesses such as bars, massage parlors, live music venues, clubs, and entertainment style shops. The existing zoning boundaries are no longer sufficient, forcing many operators to establish businesses outside the designated areas.
Currently, only 917 entertainment venues are legally registered, while over 900 others operate outside the zoned areas without proper registration, meaning almost half of the cities nightlife venues are technically not currently legally zoned. To address this and support Pattaya’s economic and tourism growth, the district proposed two plans: Plan A, expanding the zoning to cover all of Pattaya City, and Plan B, designating existing unofficial entertainment venues within Pattaya as part of the zoning area, such as large areas in Jomtien like Jomtien Complex or Soi Bongkot 8. The majority of attendees favored Plan B, which focuses on legalizing existing venues under clear regulations.
The District Chief explained that ensuring all entertainment venues are within authorized zones and registered under the Entertainment Places Act of 1966 would improve oversight and ensure operations do not disturb nearby communities. He stated that for those concerned about expansion of zones causing noise and disruption that already hundreds of venues were in these unofficial areas and that in most cases local residents would see no differences as the changes were mostly from a legal and regulation standpoint.
Following the public hearing, the district will prepare an official proposal for submission to the Cabinet for approval.
https://thepattayanews.com/2025/10/18/p ... hatgpt.com
The Pattaya News article below was posted on Sawatdee:
_________________________________________________________________________
Pattaya District Chief Holds Public Hearing to Officially Expand Entertainment Zoning
By Adam Judd
October 18, 2025
On October 17th, 2025, a public hearing was held at the Alcazar Theatre on Pattaya Second Road to discuss the rezoning of areas designated for entertainment venues in Banglamung. The meeting, chaired by District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, brought together representatives from government agencies, private sectors, and entertainment business operators.
Patcharapat revealed that the current zoning regulations, established under a Royal Decree on November 1st, 2002, have been in place for over 23 years. These regulations designated specific areas in Pattaya City for entertainment venues, which at that time were suitable for the city’s landscape and business environment. However, Pattaya’s tourism industry has since grown rapidly, with a large increase in nightlife businesses such as bars, massage parlors, live music venues, clubs, and entertainment style shops. The existing zoning boundaries are no longer sufficient, forcing many operators to establish businesses outside the designated areas.
Currently, only 917 entertainment venues are legally registered, while over 900 others operate outside the zoned areas without proper registration, meaning almost half of the cities nightlife venues are technically not currently legally zoned. To address this and support Pattaya’s economic and tourism growth, the district proposed two plans: Plan A, expanding the zoning to cover all of Pattaya City, and Plan B, designating existing unofficial entertainment venues within Pattaya as part of the zoning area, such as large areas in Jomtien like Jomtien Complex or Soi Bongkot 8. The majority of attendees favored Plan B, which focuses on legalizing existing venues under clear regulations.
The District Chief explained that ensuring all entertainment venues are within authorized zones and registered under the Entertainment Places Act of 1966 would improve oversight and ensure operations do not disturb nearby communities. He stated that for those concerned about expansion of zones causing noise and disruption that already hundreds of venues were in these unofficial areas and that in most cases local residents would see no differences as the changes were mostly from a legal and regulation standpoint.
Following the public hearing, the district will prepare an official proposal for submission to the Cabinet for approval.
https://thepattayanews.com/2025/10/18/p ... hatgpt.com
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Gaybutton
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Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
If they declare Jomtien Complex an entertainment zone, it's about time. That may permit the complex to finally be able to open go-go bars. And it that happens, I wouldn't mind someone opening an Eros clone. It might even get me to start going to the bars again. I'm sure the Gaybutton haters would just love that . . .
Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
What is the purpose of zoning ?
Taking a rational view, it makes perfect sense to separate residential & entertainment, so on one is disturbed by noise in their home or hotel.
However, there's no noise control, so many of the "non-entertainment" bars in Pattaya play ridiculously loud music.
So they don't do anything with zoning. Other than perhaps zoning their tea money collection.
As for gogo bars, one reason why there are so few is because there is so little demand for them.
The last time I was in Classic boys, in Boyztown, they had a good selection of boys, reasonable prices and I was the only customer.
In Jomtien, they have places like Gus Bar. Officially, it's not a gogo, but it does a pretty good impression of being one. I'm told it can get quite "interesting", along the lines of a bar mentioned earlier in the thread, but more discrete. Buy you're still not going to go & try it.
At least a couple of regular contributors are "hypothetical" gogo bar customers, who talk of visiting the bars if certain conditions were met.
But that doesn't pay the bills for gogo bars.
We don't need the gogos any more.
For example:
When I visit Jomtien, I'll probably spend most of my time meeting boys I already know & am in touch with via Line.
Some other contributors here have boyfriends, which somewhat cuts down on the need to hire gogo boys.
Then there are phone apps.
When I do meet boys in bars, it's finally reached the stage where I prefer to do so in host bars. Clearly, boys prefer to work in host bars and the average customer prefers to spend time in a host bar over a gogo. If in doubt, go and count them. Or consider all the boys who briefly started in a gogo, then swiftly moved to a Jomtien host bar.
That's already 4 different reasons why people don't need gogos and we're by no means unique. So even if they fix the zoning, Jomtien will not start to resemble Sunee Plaza from a couple of decades ago.
Taking a rational view, it makes perfect sense to separate residential & entertainment, so on one is disturbed by noise in their home or hotel.
However, there's no noise control, so many of the "non-entertainment" bars in Pattaya play ridiculously loud music.
So they don't do anything with zoning. Other than perhaps zoning their tea money collection.
As for gogo bars, one reason why there are so few is because there is so little demand for them.
The last time I was in Classic boys, in Boyztown, they had a good selection of boys, reasonable prices and I was the only customer.
In Jomtien, they have places like Gus Bar. Officially, it's not a gogo, but it does a pretty good impression of being one. I'm told it can get quite "interesting", along the lines of a bar mentioned earlier in the thread, but more discrete. Buy you're still not going to go & try it.
At least a couple of regular contributors are "hypothetical" gogo bar customers, who talk of visiting the bars if certain conditions were met.
But that doesn't pay the bills for gogo bars.
We don't need the gogos any more.
For example:
When I visit Jomtien, I'll probably spend most of my time meeting boys I already know & am in touch with via Line.
Some other contributors here have boyfriends, which somewhat cuts down on the need to hire gogo boys.
Then there are phone apps.
When I do meet boys in bars, it's finally reached the stage where I prefer to do so in host bars. Clearly, boys prefer to work in host bars and the average customer prefers to spend time in a host bar over a gogo. If in doubt, go and count them. Or consider all the boys who briefly started in a gogo, then swiftly moved to a Jomtien host bar.
That's already 4 different reasons why people don't need gogos and we're by no means unique. So even if they fix the zoning, Jomtien will not start to resemble Sunee Plaza from a couple of decades ago.
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Gaybutton
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Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
I'd quite like to see it.
However, if it does open, the recent track record of gogo bars suggests that most of us will visit either rarely or not at all.
So I wouldn't want to be a shareholder in such a business.
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Gaybutton
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Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
Probably because most of recent ones are lousy and way overpriced. If someone opens a go-go truly similar to the way it was at Eros I'll be there . . .
Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
It would be great to see a few gogo's open in JC to put some wind in it's sails.
I was never a big fan of Eros - but if they opened a gogo in JC like KAOS or Euroboys staffed with a few superstars I'd probably be drifting that direction myself on occasion.
The problems Boyztown is facing is 1) there's not enough traffic, and 2) the punters who do visit the area (few as there are) don't spend money anything like they did back when Boyztown was in its prime. Too many punters using the apps. And too many cheap Charlies looking for discounts.
If JC were to keep their prices down and hire some skilled ladyboys to handle the recruiting they'd probably have a winning ticket.
Here's hoping.
I was never a big fan of Eros - but if they opened a gogo in JC like KAOS or Euroboys staffed with a few superstars I'd probably be drifting that direction myself on occasion.
The problems Boyztown is facing is 1) there's not enough traffic, and 2) the punters who do visit the area (few as there are) don't spend money anything like they did back when Boyztown was in its prime. Too many punters using the apps. And too many cheap Charlies looking for discounts.
If JC were to keep their prices down and hire some skilled ladyboys to handle the recruiting they'd probably have a winning ticket.
Here's hoping.
Re: Pattaya Entertainment Zones
Three people have participated in this thread so far.Dodger wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 5:34 pmThe problems Boyztown is facing is 1) there's not enough traffic, and 2) the punters who do visit the area (few as there are) don't spend money anything like they did back when Boyztown was in its prime. Too many punters using the apps. And too many cheap Charlies looking for discounts.
As none of us frequent gogo bars on a regular basis, we're in no position to blame other punters for the decline of the gogo bar scene. Or complain about how other people spend their money.
Out of those three people, I think I'm the last to write about a gogo bar visit, which was Classic Boys earlier this year. But visiting once or twice per year is little different to never visiting.
The drinks were reasonably priced (250 baht, if I remember correctly).
On at least one of the visits, the quality of the ~10 boys was quite good. Being the only customer and having all the boys staring at me didn't make it a good experience. I got the impression that if I scratched my nose, they'd take that as a signal to join me.
As for drink prices, bear in mind, it does cost more to run a gogo bar. They need to bribe boys sufficiently to stand on stage in their underwear. Whereas, if you run a host bar, the boys are happy to work for commission on drinks & tips. So the drinks are going to cost more in a gogo.
In Bangkok, the prices are obscene. In Pattaya, the prices are often reasonable.