Malls comply with earlier closing order

PHUKET CITY: Shopping centres and malls in Phuket have been told that they must restrict their opening hours to save energy.

Panjit Pissawong, Chief of Phuket Provincial Commercial Office (PPCO) told the Gazette that the island’s shopping malls had to fall into line with the resolution made by the national cabinet on Wednesday. But, she added, the PPCO would monitor how trade was affected by the reduced hours.

Managements of shopping complexes with floor areas of 10,000 square meters or more have been told they must close at 9.30pm during the week and 10pm at weekends, to save energy at a time of rapidly rising oil prices.

A spokesman for the Internal Trade Division of the PPCO told the Gazette, “All large shopping places in Phuket have agreed to comply with the policy – even those smaller than 10,000sqm.”

However, The Nation newspaper reported today that Wallaya Chirathivat, Executive Vice President of Central Retail Corp – which opened its new Central Festival shopping centre on Phuket just last week – has made a plea for longer trading hours.

K. Wallaya requested that Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkul ask the government to allow shopping centres in tourist destinations such as Phuket to stay open later, because tourists and expatriates prefer to shop later than locals.

K. Wallaya added that Central Festival Phuket expects to attract more than 50,000 shoppers a day. The company believes that 30% to 40% of these will be foreign tourists.

The new opening hours are as follows:

Central Festival, Robinson, Big C and Tesco-Lotus: Monday-Thursday: 11 am to 9.30 pm; Friday: 11 am – 10 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 10 am-10 pm.

Makro and Super Cheap: Monday-Thursday: 6 am-9.30 pm; Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 6 am-10 pm.