Meaning the 'south-west monsoon wind" and correctly pronounced "Patti-yah" not "Patt-eye-yah" this lively destination located roughly 150 kilometres from Bangkok ranks as one of the most successful beach resorts in the world, with some 5.4 million visitors arriving in 2005. The city is chiefly famous as a sex tourism destination.
Pattaya is comfortably accessible from Bangkok in just over 2 hours on an excellent highway. Even so, it has its own airport at Utapao, built to handle US B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War, can accept wide-bodied long haul charter aircraft. It enjoys year-round warm weather, and suffers few extreme weather conditions.
Pattaya receives a large number of repeat visitors - professional people, families, and retired couples. Increasing numbers come from the former Soviet Union and East Asia.
The city of Pattaya is a self governing special municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue and Na Kluea and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha, Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri. However, it remains mostly a tourist city, with very light industry.
Pattaya is second only to Bangkok in high rise buildings, as many condos for foreign residents are built, and has a modest skyline. The city's economy benefits from its relative proximity to Bangkok.
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