“Same Faces, Same Corners” – Residents say street beggars and addicts return hours after being removed, with little lasting change. PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya’s vibrant beachfront and bustling streets are once again under scrutiny—not for tourism highs, but for an increasingly visible challenge: the growing number of homeless people, beggars, and suspected drug users occupying public spaces. Despite repeated efforts by local authorities to manage the situation, many residents say the core problem remains untouched—too many people on the streets, and too few rules that stick. On July 23, Pattaya’s city leadership, led by Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, ordered a coordinated operation to manage the situation. Teams from the Social Welfare Division, Public Order Division, and Municipal Planning Department, along with the Chonburi Protection Center for the Destitute, were dispatched to key areas including Pattaya Beach Road, Central Pattaya Road, and Wat Nong Yai to conduct outreach and enforcement efforts in response to public complaints. But while these operations are nothing new, residents are growing increasingly frustrated at the apparent lack of long-term regulation or effective solutions. “Try walking around Jomtien Beach. They’re everywhere—Thai, Chinese, foreigners—begging like it’s their full-time job,” one resident posted. “You take them away for ten minutes, and they’re back in the same spot smiling like nothing happened.” “Some are clearly drunk every day, sitting right on Pattaya Second Road. They ask for money, then go buy more alcohol. It’s the same faces every day.” City Sweep or City Cycle? – Pattaya authorities conduct another operation to relocate the homeless, but locals doubt long-term impact. Locals say that despite the good intentions of city hall, enforcement is short-lived. Some even claim that areas like abandoned buildings, alleyways, or public beaches have become de facto homes for people who either refuse help or return shortly after being removed. “It’s uncomfortable. Tourists walk by and get harassed, especially at night. It looks unsafe, and it’s hurting the image of our city,” said a business owner near Beach Road. “It’s sad, but also frustrating. You see the same people every day. Some even bring infants out in the heat just to beg.” Many comments highlight deeper issues—addiction, undocumented migrants, and those who may be abusing public sympathy. Some residents also question the screening process during city operations: “Do you test for drugs during these raids? Because some clearly aren’t just homeless—they’re dealers.” “In some areas like Jomtien Plaza, it’s not just people sleeping rough. It’s drug sales, fights, and intimidation. We need proper enforcement.” “It’s Sad but Frustrating” – Public sympathy wears thin as street problems multiply along Pattaya’s tourist zones. Despite these concerns, citizens also express empathy: “They’re still people, with problems like anyone else. But if we don’t have shelters or long-term solutions, this will just repeat again and again.” Indeed, the lack of infrastructure—like full-time shelters, mental health support, and addiction services—means that operations like this become a cycle: remove, release, return. Some suggest that without clear policy on foreign beggars, stronger cooperation with immigration, or designated support centers, Pattaya risks becoming what one commenter called “a zombie town like in America.” As one post pointedly asked: “Where do you put them after you remove them? If there’s no answer to that, then there’s no solution.” Pattaya continues to be a magnet for both opportunity and hardship. But unless city regulations catch up with the real problems on the streets, residents fear the city’s charm will keep fading—one sidewalk camp at a time. Tourism Meets Reality – As Pattaya welcomes global visitors, locals ask: why is there no real solution to rising street homelessness?