“Pattaya One Voice” group of local tourism leaders to propose relaxing restrictions and extending opening hours for entertainment venues to Chonburi Governor

Chonburi –

The “Pattaya One Voice” group is preparing to propose relaxing restrictions and extending the legal operation hours of entertainment venues to the Chonburi Governor.

Representatives of multiple tourism sectors and operators of entertainment venues gathered today, April 2nd, to discuss more guidelines and measures to prevent Covid-19 while allowing their businesses to be fully reopened after they had been suffering for more than 2 years from the Covid-19 outbreak.

The “Pattaya One Voice” group, therefore, agreed to draft and submit a letter to the Chonburi governor Pakkarathorn Thienchai, urging the authorities to consider measures for relaxation for entertainment venues and allow their full operation.

According to the current situation, the group had strictly followed public health preventive measures to prove their intention and readiness to operate their establishments under the SHA plus and Covid free setting standards. ATK testings were required for all customers and employees before service operations in order to make ‘Covid-free’ establishments before being able to reopen and drive the tourism economy again.

The group’s major focus is to get rid of the current 11:00 P.M. closing time for alcohol-serving venues which they say hurts tourism and the image of Pattaya as a world-leading nightlife destination. Prior to Covid-19, depending on the zone, closing time was legally between 1:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M. for most of the city, although enforcement could vary. Recently, however, authorities have been strict on 11:00 P.M. which One Voice says has surprised and disappointed tourists who have come to the city expecting a vibrant nightlife scene.

The group is also looking for the legal reopening of bars and entertainment, which have been shut since April 10th of 2021 due to Covid-19 measures and are currently operating in a “grey area” as converted restaurants.

TPN notes, however, that the restrictions and rules around nightlife and bars are set by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, nationally in Bangkok and that regional and local leaders have limited ability to change the rules currently as Thailand remains under an Emergency Decree for Covid-19, which suspends many special administrative powers locally. However, the governor could certainly “push” for an exception for tourism-reliant areas like Pattaya. Phuket has been attempting the same and has also mostly reached a brick wall, TPN notes.

The CCSA has not given any solid plan or roadmap to fully reopening nightlife in Thailand, simply saying they are working on treating Covid-19 as endemic by June or July.

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Nop Meechukhun
National News Writer at The Pattaya News from September 2020 to October, 2022. Born and raised in Bangkok, Nop enjoys telling stories of her hometown through her words and pictures. Her educational experience in the United States and her passion for journalism have shaped her genuine interests in society, politics, education, culture, and art.