Pattaya’s struggling entertainment sector calls for later closing times

Entertainment officials in Pattaya say the tourism economy would improve if the closing time for venues serving alcohol was 1am instead of the current 11pm.

The secretary of the Pattaya Association of Entertainment Venue Operators told the Bangkok Post many pubs, bars, and karaoke parlours have delayed reopening as restaurants as they believe having an 11pm closing time would restrict them from making a profit.

The secretary said business operators must immediately hold talks to plan ways to attract tourists back, since some neighbouring countries have scrapped quarantine requirements to attract tourists. He said that in Thailand tourists from Europe and the US are coming back, and venues in the central walking street should be ready to reopen as restaurants to welcome them back.

He also noted that tourists from Russia were coming back as well, but that source is now all but shut off.

This news comes a week after Pattaya’s public relations department ‘requested‘ that people not hold parties or gatherings with more than 50 people. Pattaya also postponed a music festival last month after 1,250 new Covid-19 infections hit Chon Buri province.

The entertainment secretary told the Bangkok Post he hopes the tourism sector will recover soon, and tourism businesses will be able to resume operations in April. He said extending closing times to 1am should help with this.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post