Chiang Rai Beach Closes for Redevelopment, Ending 50 Years of History

CHIANG RAI – For over 50 years, Chiang Rai Beach has been a beloved local landmark, affectionately called “Little Pattaya” by locals and tourists alike. Now, this historic riverside area in Rob Wiang is set to become a memory as it closes for a major urban redevelopment project. The Rob Wiang Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) heavily manages this famous beach area. They recently sent official letters to all local business owners and traditional vendors, stating that their commercial lease agreements will not be renewed. This move is part of an extensive urban development project by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, aiming to overhaul the entire city, including villages in the Rob Wiang subdistrict and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Chiang Rai Beach is designated as a high-priority zone for the first phase of this massive overhaul. Consequently, local authorities decided on September 16 to end all commercial leases permanently. The existing lease contracts will officially expire for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year. Vendors are required to meticulously remove all their property and vacate the premises by October 7, 2026. Failure to meet this strict deadline will result in the SAO forcibly removing their belongings, with business owners bearing all legal and moving costs. This sudden change has caused extreme distress among local shop owners. Many are deeply worried about their future income and current living situations. Ms. Chaweewan Srichot, 55, president of the local vendor club, explained that her family has worked at the beach for multiple generations, and she started working there at the age of 12. Now, at 55, she feels shocked and unprepared for this rapid eviction. "We always knew the contracts would eventually end," Chaweewan stated, "but we never expected the actual deadline to arrive this fast." For many vendors, moving their entire lives is not a simple task, as they have built their livelihoods around this riverside area for decades. The past few years have been particularly harsh, with the COVID-19 pandemic decimating their income, and recent massive floods ruining their shops. Many owners had to borrow heavily just to rebuild and stay in business. Adding to their woes, a false rumor about dangerous arsenic in the water scared away customers. Most vendors have not recovered their investments or paid off their heavy debts, making this forced exit feel like a final, devastating blow. Chaweewan expressed a strong hope that the local government will show sympathy to the struggling business owners. She is directly asking for a deadline extension to provide more time for relocation and has suggested waiving the final rent payments to help them save essential funds. Mr. Wanchana Thaokaenchan, the Mayor of Rob Wiang SAO, offered a different perspective. He claimed the government has been warning vendors about this project for over two years and that most of the local community fully understands and accepts the situation. According to the mayor, only 8 out of the remaining 20 vendors are currently resisting. He explained that this massive 187-million-baht project, which began planning in 2023, is a major joint effort with the Chiang Rai City Municipality to dramatically improve local tourism. The three-year development plan will significantly alter the riverfront’s appearance and daily function, including the construction of strong retaining walls to prevent future river flooding, along with new public parks, modern sports fields, and spacious public parking lots. Mayor Wanchana firmly confirmed that the project has already received its necessary federal funding allocations, necessitating the immediate reclamation of land to commence heavy construction on schedule. He stressed that contracts are not being broken early but are simply expiring as planned. Once completed, the revitalized area will feature modern buildings for selling local goods, and the SAO proudly promises to give priority leasing rights to the original local vendors. However, officials cannot provide temporary selling spaces at this time, advising vendors to seek temporary work elsewhere. Information Source: Chiang Rai Times