Pattaya beaches go chairless for big fleet show

Tourists sit on a Pattaya beach that will be without umbrellas or chairs for the next three days. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)

Pattaya beaches will not be the same until Tuesday, with umbrellas and chairs folded up as part of a cleanup campaign to mark the arrival of international naval fleets.

All sun shades and chairs have been cleared from the sands at the request of city authorities, who asked for "cooperation from beachside operators" during the event that opened on Friday and concludes on Monday.

The resort city is hosting the International Fleet Review 2017 with the Royal Thai Navy until Monday. The highlight on Monday will be a parade in Pattaya Bay by the fleets from more than a dozen countries, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), to mark the group's 50th anniversary.

One beach business operator who asked not to be named said on Saturday that all of them were ready to comply with the requests of city authorities to help promote Pattaya.

Raweewan Thongtem, a visitor from Songkhla who is spending two weeks in the resort city, said the beach was more beautiful without chairs and umbrellas. "I prefer a beach closer to the nature though it does not have facilities," she said.

The navy has sent 15 vessels to join 25 ships from other countries for a parade that will be witnessed by navy officers from 40 countries and chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. All of the ships took part in a rehearsal on Saturday.

HTMS Angthong will be part of the International Fleet Review 2017. (Video by Royal Thai Navy)