Deserted Chatuchak Market: Can it recover former glories or just be a footnote in history?

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Daily News reported on a Facebook post on "Gthai Movie" about the state of Chatuchak Market in northern Bangkok.

 

Pictures showed the once thriving weekend market - said to be the largest of its kind in the world - devoid of buyers, sellers and of course foreign tourists.

 

Comment by posters offering their opinion was rife after the site posed the question:

 

"When the country reopens will Chatuchak recover its former glory, or be a footnote in history as once being the biggest market in the world?"

 

Thaivisa notes that while many areas of the market are indeed deserted, these are more tourist orientated. 

 

Areas selling items such as pets and pet products continue to attract custom, albeit a fraction of before the pandemic. 

 

People are still going to the market to eat, buy plants and furniture and clothes, for example, but there is a marked drop off caused by Bangkokians' fears about markets in general where there have been many clusters of Covid-19.

 

Certainly the shops selling tourist trinkets - of which there are many selling almost identical fare - may have to diversify or die given the unlikelihood that tourists will be returning any time soon, we suggest. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-01

 

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[Snig27]

Parts of it are like this - the tourist parts - but as it implies the furniture markets and the retro markets are much the same it seems. The retro markets are very busy. 

[OneMoreFarang]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

"When the country reopens will Chatuchak recover its former glory, or be a footnote in history as once being the biggest market in the world?"

Which former glory?

 

The glory from many years ago when it was a Thai market with few tourists?

Or the "glory" with million of tourists?

Or maybe the glory with all the illegal animals?

 

I would hope that the animal part will be closed forever. Because many animals there "live" in horrible conditions and are sick. But probably that won't happen. TiT

 

 

[MasterBaker]

honestly, it was always a dump

[Aussieroaming]

Given its location in relation to the transit systems like MRT/BTS, vans and bus routes and with the new Bang Sue Station within easy walking distance I'm pretty sure that Chatuchak Market along with JJ Mall, Mixt and Bang Sue Junction will always be around in some form or another.  Also considering that Union Mall and Central Lad Prao are only one stop away and the fact that there are good local park precincts as well to cater for picnicing, biking, walking or running then a day trip to chatuchak  market can evolve into differing leisure and shopping  experiences.

[Logosone]

Of  course it will be back! This pandemic will disappear. Tourists will return and this great, great market, where I bought many fantastic handbags for 50 cents will no doubt return. Let's hope the orange juice size improves.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"When the country reopens will Chatuchak recover its former glory, or be a footnote in history as once being the biggest market in the world?"

More like the biggest rats-nest in the world.

[Sydebolle]

What former glory? Which tourism at trillions a year? Thailand's biggest enemy is its own people and the legalized military government but, as the saying goes, every country has the government it deserves.

Possibly Burma might be on the exclusion list though but that is not a government. 

[Stargeezr]

Yes because it is within walking distance for the Thais who do not walk any further than they have to, it will recover, maybe in 3 to 5 years, like 

the places that have not gone totally bankrupt.  Thankfully this pandemic will not last forever, and eventually most people will have their

vaccine shots.  Only Africa, India, China and some places in South America will take 4 to 5 year to get their populations all vaccinated.

  My estimate is about 5 years before we are either back toward a sort of normal, or will be fighting off yet another pandemic.

Geezer

[BangkokReady]

I really don't buy most of this "Will [cheap to run and easily moth-balled tourist based business] be able to survive or will it be gone forever?".  It's pure sensationalism.

 

By the time tourism returns to its full strength, all of these places will have come back.  There's nothing to replace them as there isn't an economy that is going to take their place without tourism.

 

The barriers to entry aren't that great and since the property owners and stock suppliers will be desperate to see demand return, they will be more than happy to allow some credit to get the businesses up and running.  The choice will be to work with people to help get their businesses back or continue to have no income.

[Logosone]

It is one of the greatest markets in human history. A living testament to the creativity of the Thai people.

 

If you're tired of Chatuchak you're tired of life. The variety of foods, goods, it's an experience that anyone can enjoy and hopefully tourists can come back sooner than later.