ASEAN summit venue changed once more, now to Pattaya

The summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders plus China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India was originally due to take place in Bangkok in December, but was postponed after anti-Government protesters besieged the capital’s airports. Next the southern tourist isle of Phuket was named to host the conference on April 10-12. Now, Thailand has again switched the venue of the long-delayed meeting saying it would now be held in the beach resort of Pattaya.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat told that it would likely be held at the town’s plush Royal Cliff Beach Hotel.

“The problem in Phuket was that many hotels were booked by tourists and therefore the available rooms were scattered around. We are trying to use only one hotel, for security reasons,” he said.

Pattaya, less than 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Bangkok, is one of Thailand’s most popular seaside resorts but has only just begun to cultivate a more family-friendly image after years as a magnet for sex tourists.