Pattaya –
The Pattaya City Mayor, Sontaya Kunplome, said that he is pushing provincial and national government officials to allow alcohol sales in restaurants and for entertainment venues to legally reopen as a test area in Pattaya after the Pattaya Fireworks Festival has, according to him, succeeded with lots of tourists and few major problems.
Mayor Sontaya told the associated Thai media after the weekend’s events, “The Pattaya Firework Festival brought lots of Thai and foreign tourists from Bangkok and nearby provinces to Pattaya. The event was very successful, more than we had expected by far. However, even though were many tourists we are strictly focusing on social distancing, mask-wearing, temperature checks, and other Covid -19 measurements as much as we can.”
“This success was the target of Pattaya City at first. We wanted to show that the city is a fantastic tourism model with solid Covid -19 safety protocols. Locals and tourists were confident to take part in the festival. Since November 1st, the Pattaya city economy is improving especially on Koh Larn and during festivals. That being said, we have heard the many pleas and petitions, almost on a daily basis, from the nightlife, tourism, bar, and entertainment sector, as well as the restaurant and hotel sector, on the unpopular alcohol ban in Pattaya. We understand they are upset, even angry. We understand how many people rely on this sector for a living, especially in Pattaya.” The mayor explained.
“I am continuing to provide more information to the CCSA, Chonburi Governor, and relevant public health agencies (Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration) with the hope that they will allow Pattaya alcohol sales in restaurants or reopen bars and entertainment venues as soon as possible. We have shown we can run many events successfully, with only a few Covid-19 cases from the music festival that came from people outside of safety zones not following proper rules, and we are willing to be a test zone for reopening nightlife and entertainment as well if allowed.” The mayor continued.
The Pattaya City Mayor, Sontaya Kunplome, said last week that he is pushing to allow alcohol sales in restaurants and for bars and entertainment venues to legally reopen before New Year’s after numerous groups of business operators and associations from many sectors had filed letters, petitions, and protests over the past week.
TPN media notes that Bangkok and Phuket, amongst other areas, had been given exemptions or permission from the CCSA to serve alcohol at restaurants and some other measures, but Pattaya remained a dry zone (along with all of Chonburi) despite high vaccination rates and continued anger from tourism associations and business owners. As of press time, background discussions were reportedly still ongoing between provincial and city officials, as well as health officials, but there was still no change to the alcohol sales ban in Pattaya and no official reason for keeping the ban in Pattaya but not Bangkok, Samui, or Phuket had been given.
Officially, the CCSA has said the entertainment and nightlife sector would not be allowed to open before at least mid-January, 2022, but had left the door open for a possible earlier opening depending on what they called businesses being prepared, without specifically explaining what each step for preparation was.
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