Pattaya City Launches Checks in Central Pattaya
Pattaya City launched an integrated operation to regulate homeless people and vagrants while closely inspecting children selling flowers and begging from tourists along Walking Street following complaints on social media about impacts on tourism.
On August 4, 2026, the Deputy Mayor of Pattaya led a multi-agency team to conduct operations along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya Second Road and surrounding areas. The goal was to clean up and offer aid to homeless people in the area after multiple recent complaints, as well as some violent incidents that have taken place in the Jomtien area.
This is also taking place after a missing woman who had been missing for four months was thankfully found safe, but was found with the local homeless community in the Jomtien Soi 3 area. As a result, these checks were conducted to see if anybody else in the homeless community in and around Pattaya may be flagged as missing or have relatives and others looking for them.
Officials Identify 13 Homeless People
The operation located 13 homeless people and vagrants with no fixed residence. Five were advised and directed to leave the area. Five were transferred to the Chonburi Provincial Center for Protection and Enhancement of Quality of Life, and three individuals showing signs of mental illness were sent for treatment at a local hospital.
Walking Street Flower Sellers Face Stricter Inspections
After completing this effort, Pattaya City inspected Walking Street following social media reports of groups of children begging for money from tourists selling flowers and complaints of possible theft.
Local business operators have reported that these groups, consisting of both children and adults, typically appear in the early evening to sell flowers and persistently approach tourists. In some cases, they allegedly take advantage of tourists being distracted to commit pickpocketing, which creates further problems.
Authorities Call for Systematic Enforcement
Pattaya City officials have ordered relevant agencies to strictly enforce their duties and laws to address the issue systematically, to build public and tourist confidence in safety while preserving Pattaya’s reputation.
This is not a new problem, but Pattaya City says that they have renewed efforts to end it.
