by Peter Janssen
Jan 9th 2021

"The bulk of our customers are [Westerners] between the ages of 65 and 80, all of them [living] on pensions in currencies that aren't very favorable right now.

PATTAYA, Thailand -- Hungry Hippo is one of the few food and beverage outlets that remain busy in Pattaya, Thailand's oldest beach resort, which has seen its once-vibrant tourism-driven economy devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Western retirees can also be found in other Thai beach resorts such as Phuket and Hua Hin, but Pattaya tends to attract a specific demographic -- male, single, and often at the lower end of the expatriate economic scale. "They like the lifestyle here, because the cost of living is cheaper," Khemmarin said. "Most of them are single, living on pensions or retirement benefits which, if they were living in their home countries, would barely cover their expenses, but here they can enjoy a good standard of living."

The retirees have become a crucial market for the Pattaya economy during the pandemic. About 18 million foreign tourists visited Pattaya in 2019, but almost no foreigners have been allowed into the country since April. Nearly half of the 500,000 Thais who used to work in Pattaya's hotels, bars and restaurants have left to seek work elsewhere, according to Khemmarin.

Ingle, 58, spent his youth working in pubs in the U.K., and arrived in Thailand 34 years ago, eventually moving to Pattaya and setting up a half-dozen restaurants. He lived in Nha Trang, Vietnam, between 2011 and 2018, where he operated and then sold three restaurants before moving back to Pattaya to open Hungry Hippo. A gregarious man, he has turned the restaurant into a social club for what he calls the "old boys."

One worry for expat seniors is the prospect of falling ill. Many do not have medical insurance. For the uninsured, the best option is the publicly run Pattaya City Hospital, which has a cash payment system and charges about 30% less than private sector hospitals.

While many of the retirees complain about poor treatment by the Thai authorities, especially the immigration police who renew their visas, some Thais acknowledge that the "old boys" are good for the economy. "For Pattaya these retirees are prime customers. They spend their money here," Khemmarin said. "They can be very lovable."

full.https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/ ... cking-over