Pattaya, Chonburi: October 6th, 2026
Pattaya City Hall hosted a seminar on linking local history with tourism development, attended by Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampichet, Paret Atthawiphat, advisor to the Following in the Footsteps of King Taksin Club, Suchat Kanokratmanee, chairman of the club, members of the Pattaya City Council, and representatives of government agencies, communities, and related organizations.
Paret Atthawiphat said the club has spent roughly 15 to 20 years researching the history of Chonburi and the military route of King Taksin. The findings point to connections between Ban Na Kluea, Pattaya, and Jomtien and the path taken by Phraya Taksin’s army, which passed through and camped in the area before continuing toward Sattahip and Rayong. The movement took place in 1766, before the fall of Ayutthaya, when Phraya Taksin led his forces out of the capital.
Another account discussed at the seminar concerns Nai Klam, a local figure from Ban Na Kluea. When Phraya Taksin’s army reached the area, Nai Klam led about 100 villagers to intercept the force. After learning that the troops belonged to Phraya Taksin, he pledged allegiance and joined the march onward through Pattaya, Jomtien, and Sattahip.
The club said the story has potential to be developed as a “local hero” of Na Kluea and Pattaya, strengthening community pride and identity and supporting tourism narratives and local soft power.
Mayor Poramese Ngampichet said Pattaya places importance on using historical assets and local stories as storytelling tools to add depth to tourism. Accounts of King Taksin’s passage through the eastern region, he said, could be developed into a “Retracing King Taksin’s Historical Route” linking Pattaya, Sattahip, and neighboring provinces.
Under the proposed approach, the city will invite government agencies, the public, communities, and historians to gather information, verify evidence, and develop accurate content before it is shaped into tourism routes, learning sites, or activities suited to local conditions, so that residents and visitors can engage with the history in an accessible way.
The seminar marks an initial step toward integrating historical knowledge into Pattaya’s tourism development, connecting past events with the present, building awareness and pride in local identity, and creating longer-term economic and tourism opportunities for residents and communities.
News: Natcha Traiphiphat
Photos: Thanapong Unmak
Public Relations Division, Administration Section
Tourism and Sports Bureau