Pattaya’s new mayor enjoyed a landslide advantage in the recent election outscoring her nearest oppponent by 17,000, however considering the city’s growth in the last years, the 50% turnout for the mayoral election should have come up with more than 28,000 voters.
Where is everyone else?
Ten years ago Pattaya’s population was roughly 90,000. Wikpedia lists the 2007 number of registered Thai residents as 100,000, although it is widely suspected that another 200,000 to 400,000 inhabitants crowd the coastal city. They don’t really count, being Thais listed in other provinces or even less important long-time western visitors.
Basically 3 of the 4 people you see in Pattaya don’t exist to the city officials, which is why municipal authorities claim there is enough water for the populace and ignore the traffic congestion.
The people simply aren’t there.