Leaver

I could understand if the Thai landlord wanted to use covid to "wind up' current lease holders, because he has a big offer on the table from a developer. I am simply commenting on Nick Dean's information that the Thai landlord wishes to retain the land, and is therefore renovating the bars to sign up more lease holders, post covid. I can not comment on the truth, or otherwise, from the Thai landlord. I can only comment on Nick Dean's information, and for me, if the Thai landlord has no intention of selling, why force out a long term tenant by not offering rent relief during covid, particularly a major tenant, like Pandora. For your information, as foreigners, we can never truly own property here. I have said that in many posts, on several threads. I don't know why you are calling me out on that one. I have openly stated I will never buy a property here. It's simply a waste of money, when the purchase price invested elsewhere earns more than the cost of renting here. I am not quite sure where you got that bar owners, and myself, think they own the property. They own the business, that's the name, the seats, the tables, the TV's, the fridges etc. Who suggested otherwise?

Hint: Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, yet the Thai elite earn billions from it. ???? Yes, we have known this for years, yet, it flourishes in Pattaya. (pre covid) Human nature. Nothing is ever enough. Casinos are inevitable. The argument of social harm to Thai's is a moot point, should Thai's not be allowed in to gamble.

Correct. The cat is well and truly out of the bag for Thailand now.

A bit like a tour of Chernobyl, I suppose. ????

Nick Dean has announced that Pandora on Soi 7 is finished. The back story is, the Thai landlord didn't want to share the covid pain. What a smart businessman he must be. He said the Thai landlord has plans to renovate his tin roof beer bars on Soi 7. Who would want to rent off a Thai landlord like that? I'm sure the owner wished he walked away earlier.

The pandemic may not be at its worse in Pattaya just yet.

I would develop an app for Thai hookers to work off, all over Thailand, only for in house "massage" of course. Tinder, but for payment, in Thailand. ????

Not as many as yesterday.

Correct. With a stroke of a pen in the corridors of power in Bangkok, many of the wealthy Thai elite would become obscenely rich.

Would his family having shares in one be a large incentive?" ????

I understand what you are saying, but you are assuming a tourist will stay in his hotel room, summons a girl on an app, meet her in the lobby of his hotel, then go to his hotel room with her for an hour, and that's all. Whilst this may happen, I don't think that will be the norm. A tourist might start chatting with a girl from an app and arrange to meet at a bar, live music venue, maybe even a restaurant, if he has decided on long time with her. The message chatting and video calls can take place in his hotel room, or on the beach, or in a bar. A little like internet dating, but with a certain outcome for the tourists, because she is a hooker. This may be a more easy and convenient way to meet girls, rather than bar hopping and watching the girl drink her lady drink in 2 minutes, and all the other associated BS that comes with the bars and bar girls. Guy can chat to a few different girls on the apps, and then pick one they like, either for short time, or long time. I'm not suggesting apps will replace Thai girls working in bars. I am suggesting the use of apps will grow in popularity, as the old and tired lady drink and bar fine business model here fails to attract pretty girls, and new mongers. As I have suggested, perhaps they can co-exist, to some degree, but I can definitely see a market for apps here in the future. As I said in another post, it's basically Tinder, but the guy pays, and we all know how big Tinder is. Once again, happy to discuss opposing views.

Yes, and if it's a quiet night, she can freelance out of a bar for lady drinks and bar fines, for those still willing to pay them. Of course, she'll be checking her phone often for incoming messages from potential customers. She also gets the social interaction that another member mentioned the girls like. She can work on websites like Only Fans and then go and freelance, or work online until a customer comes in on various apps. She can also advertise herself for the girlfriend experience for fly in 2 week millionaires. We know Thai's like to copy a successful business model, so many will hear from girls doing well online and will probably give it a try.

A tactical retreat is not a surrender. ????

If / when the apps gain in popularity, it may be the case all the pretty girls are on apps, leaving not so attractive girls in the bars. Perhaps the actions of the girls will determine the success, or lack of it, for apps here in the future.

I'm sure you are aware of the thousands of successful dating apps, all around the world. These apps have lead to some happy marriages. Do you consider them dangerous to use? My experience here was the girls were happy to send photos and video call. The girls I saw in the photos and video chatted with were the girls that arrived. Out of lock down, or post covid, would I go completely digital, no. Just saying, that it will be impacting on the lady drinks and bar fine business model in the future.

What I meant was, the next generation grew up with computers and the internet. When they are in their 50's, and beyond, they would have been using smart phones and apps for most of their life. We all know they how are glued to social media. There will be zero degree of difficultly for them to make an account and pay for a subscription and start using an app. Not so for a guy currently in his 60's. Also, in my opinion, the work ethic of the next generation is not so great. If it's easier to to meet a girl on an app than go bar hopping, they'll take the easy way. I'm predicting the use of apps will have an impact on the lady drink and bar fine business model here in the future. It was happening pre covid. To what degree that impact will be, I am unsure, but it will be interesting to see. Happy to listen to those that disagree.

With this vaccine, that's what they will be relying on, luck.

If all Pattaya residents were double vaccinated over the next 2 months, it means nothing for tourism here until 60% to 70% of Thai's have been vaccinated, across the country. Pattaya can not be sandboxed. So all of these media releases mean nothing.

Of course. Just change the facts to suit the opening date. ????

It's in the hands of the Thai's now. The faster they can procure or manufacture vaccines, and administer them, the faster they can open the country up. The date, the vaccination program here has been a shambles.

I have a couple of ex Thailand friends there. One opened a bar and is living there on a Temporary Resident Card. From memory, they last about 2 or 3 years. The other is married, so he's on a 5 year marriage visa for about $50USD, no other hoops. That's a pretty good deal.

Good post. We saw in places like Phuket, after the tsunami, that the rip offs, price gouging, bill padding, extortion, and assaults on tourists, returned quite quickly. I don't think there will be a new found appreciation for farang, or their money, post covid. In my opinion, over the next 2 years, businesses catering for expats, and running a good operation, will survive. Those targeting tourists, as you say, will be fighting over what few that may be about.

Not need to take it personally, jacko. It's just some internet banter. Apps like Tinder have been in operation for a long time. What makes you think an app, or apps, won't be used by sex tourists here, but for payment, not a free hook up? We've already seen AirBnb in operation here, and apps similar to Uber / Grab. Perhaps I should clarify. When I say I have arranged to meet them in a bar, I don't mean beer bars. They have been bars like Retox, for example. The girls I have decided to go long time with, we have then moved on to live music bars and beer bars and never had a problem. The bar is still selling two drinks. Not sure how "a few moments" chat with a soapy girl is anything better than a video chat with a girl from an app. My point being, a customer picks a girl in the fish bowl, and 10 minutes later they are in to it. In my opinion, the next generation of monger will be more tech savvy than my generation. Just like taxis learnt the hard way, bars here will need to keep up with the digital age, or go out of business. It's not like the use of these apps came about due to covid. They were around way before covid. When you see some of the stunning girls on them, it's not like you are Cheap Charlie for using apps. Maybe it's the girls that will dictate the popularity of the apps in the future. If the pretty ones are doing good business on them, who does that leave working in a bar?

Not sure the the regular mongers will be happy with having just the surviving 10% of businesses to play in. I don't think it will be a decade, but for sure more than 5 five years.

Not looking good, at this stage.