Coronavirus curbs shutter thousands of Bangkok restaurants

[webfact]

A closed sign is seen at the Chu Chocolate Bar & Cafe, days after it was permanently closed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2021. Picture taken June 1, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

By Athit Perawongmetha and Patpicha Tanakasempipat

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - When restaurant owner Chirayu Na Ranong heard the Thai government announce new coronavirus restrictions in Bangkok in April, he burst into tears.

 

The latest curbs were the final straw for his Chu Chocolate Bar & Cafe in the centre of the city. The cafe, popular with both tourists and locals for the past decade, closed its doors for the last time this week.

 

"I knew that it was over, because we were already just barely surviving, and then with one more lockdown, we wouldn't have enough money to pay," Chirayu, 36, told Reuters as his staff cleared out the restaurant.

 

"I followed the government's order, I did what they told me to do, and then I couldn't survive. I couldn't make a living."

 

The cafe's chairs were stacked neatly near a big glass window that overlooked the empty city street, while several trash bags were lined up in front of what used to be a display of mouth-watering desserts.

 

Thailand's food and beverage industry has been hit hard by restrictions on dine-in restaurants and the closures of pubs and bars, with sales falling drastically as people worked from home and tourist numbers dwindled to record lows.

 

The Thai Restaurant Association has estimated the industry is losing up to 1.4 billion baht ($44.97 million) per day under the current restrictions and about 500,000 workers have lost their jobs.

 

Around 50,000 restaurants have shut down over the past two months, either temporarily or permanently, the association said. It expects at least 10,000 to go out of business completely by the end of the outbreak.

 

"The government told us to stop our businesses, but no help has arrived," Taniwan Koonmongkon, the association's president, told Reuters. "It has never been this bad. We're hanging by a thread."

 

In late May, the government eased some restrictions on restaurants, allowing them to reopen for dine-ins but at a limited capacity of 25% and only until 9 p.m.

 

Industry groups have said that is not enough for many operators who have run out of cash to keep their staff and pay rent in the absence of financial assistance from the government.

 

The capital and surrounding provinces are the epicentre of the two-month-old outbreak, during which the vast majority of Thailand's coronavirus cases and deaths have been recorded.

 

Thailand is reporting almost 4,000 new infections on average each day. It has recorded a total of around 165,000 cases and 1,100 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

 

The restaurant association and another industry group, Fire & Ice, have called for urgent financial support and caution on any further restrictions.

 

"The food and beverage industry is also one of the main attractions for Thailand's tourism," said Choltanutkun Tun-atiruj of Fire & Ice.

 

"What will be left of it once the country reopens, if the government doesn't see the importance of this industry?"

($1 = 31.1300 baht)

 

(Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; editing by Jane Wardell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-06-03

 

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[ukrules]

The time to close everything was October 2020, anyone who closed after that point was just wasting money.

 

It might have been a bit later in the non tourist areas but in tourist areas the minute we knew COVID was coming back for the winter season in Europe at around the end of September / first half of October that was the time to act.

 

It was kind of obvious at that point that there was not going to be a high season during the winter.

 

People might say this is easy to say now with hindsight but I acted on this at the time and closed down a business in October last year for this very reason, I was correct to do so.

 

I noticed some places closed down at the first 'lockdown', and did not reopen at all, they sold the location (land + building) and retired, etc.

 

That would have saved even more money but I guess I'm an optimist and waited until I was sure nothing would change over the winter season.

 

I also noticed that a whole bunch of other new places have opened up for the first time during the second half of last year. Good luck with that. I guess their plan will allow for a couple of lean years when starting up so that may work out ok if they're reasonably well funded.

[Airalee]

With this news, plus all the hotels, tour agencies, etc etc etc closing, how is it that they arrive at an official 2%(ish) unemployment rate?

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, Airalee said:

With this news, plus all the hotels, tour agencies, etc etc etc closing, how is it that they arrive at an official 2%(ish) unemployment rate?

 

I would suspect that the vast majority of the people who lost their jobs have never been considered as employed and were operating outside the tax system.

[Tharnbiz1971]

I know many from taxi driver to hair salon who can survive no longer. 

[RichardColeman]

Need top stop all this lunacy very, very soon.

 

70-80 million people got added to the world population last year during this pandemic.

 

If the same happens this year , then we are looking like adding 150,000,000 people to the world in 2 years - even allowing for covid deaths.

 

The amount of people losing jobs, businesses, dying from lost hospital appointments, losing housing, lifestyles just disappearing makes no sense any more.

 

The world and world leaders are destroying the planet more than the disease.

 

 

 

 

[Lickey]

Get away from MSM, have a look at alternative media, 

[10baht]

Vaccine. vaccine , vaccine. What is so hard about that for an answer. Look at countries who are do it - their economies are improving  ex·po·nen·tial·ly --- 555

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, Airalee said:

With this news, plus all the hotels, tour agencies, etc etc etc closing, how is it that they arrive at an official 2%(ish) unemployment rate?

They forgot to add a zero.

[hotchilli]

33 minutes ago, 10baht said:

Vaccine. vaccine , vaccine. What is so hard about that for an answer. Look at countries who are do it - their economies are improving  ex·po·nen·tial·ly --- 555

Because the PM mastered a cozy deal with Siam Bioscience which had never produced vaccines before, this was to make him look good and Thailand a hub of production in Asia.

But he got caught out when the 2nd/3rd waves came along and had nothing else to offer.

Now he's scrambling to get AZ into Thailand along with anything the Chinese will donate.

[JayBird]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

They forgot to add a zero.

It might be 2%.  Something huge like 80% of the population are classified as farmers.

 

And it's possible those who lost a job get classified as a farmer.

[BestB]

1 common factor in all sad stories, no assistance from the government in any shape or form.

 

Year ago, promised soft loans for the businesses never made it to the businesses, just disappeared into a thin air.

 

BOT suggested business owners speak with the banks they have business accounts with for loans, only to be told bank does not lend to tourism related businesses, including restaurants.

 

Big head keeps coming up with stimulus packages only no one seems to see or feel it effects.

[dallen52]

15 hours ago, Airalee said:

With this news, plus all the hotels, tour agencies, etc etc etc closing, how is it that they arrive at an official 2%(ish) unemployment rate?

Nice round number. 2%

Same as the vaccine rate 2%

[terryofcrete]

My lady , when I'm in Thailand, got a job in a new restaurant in Bangkok as she lost her job as a hairdresser because of the lack of business .. She finished work exhausted today.. 12hr shift  , it was so busy for takeaway... she said they did 200 takeaway mains and 300 coffees in the day... I know it's a holiday today , but that's still a good day ... especially for a new venture .. Life in the city yet ..be it mostly local.

[thailand49]

While it was all expected there was and never any real help from the government since they ALL seem to feel and act entitled the people do all the suffering while the top continue to live like fat selfish hogs.????

[OneMoreFarang]

It seems even if restaurants are open very few people go there.

I was recently in a BBQ Plaza at lunch time. My gf and I were the only guests.

Legally that place could have been 25% occupied.

[NorthernRyland]

35 minutes ago, BestB said:

1 common factor in all sad stories, no assistance from the government in any shape or form.

 

The government's who put them out of business in the first place!

[DPKANKAN]

15 hours ago, Airalee said:

With this news, plus all the hotels, tour agencies, etc etc etc closing, how is it that they arrive at an official 2%(ish) unemployment rate?

Because that is probably only based on those who pay tax!! I would guess 60%+ live hand to hand day by day and not on the register!!????????????????????????????????

[WineOh]

'Close your businesses and we ain't gonna help you!'

That is the attitude from this disgrace of a government.

 

To add insult to injury they dangle a sweet carrot in front of desperate workers.

The 4,000 baht that never arrives (or only arrives after months of waiting and faffing about trying to get it).

 

The writing has been on the wall for years now.

This military junta disguised as elected officials DOES NOT care about the average man & woman in the street.

They only serve upwards, everyone else is collateral damage to be brushed under the carpet as quickly and as quietly as possible.

 

All I see in Thailands immediate future is desperation and hardship.

And that is exactly how those in charge want it to be.

 

So sad to see the country I once loved wholeheartedly deteriorate into this.

 

 

[Rockhound]

Well!   Who would ever have thought that economic suicide has consequences?

 

[cclub75]

As usual, Reuters misses an important point...

 

The ban on alcohol.

 

Everyone should know... that alcohol is a big chunk of the margin of every restaurant.

 

So since april 24... the restaurants... ALL OVER Thailand, whatever their childish "color" system... can not sell alcohol.

 

Since mid may in Bangkok ("dark red")... they can open at 25 % inside... but still without alcohol.

 

And what was achieved by such brillant policy ?

 

Nothing. We still have nationwide, our 3000 cases and 30 deads every day... And so called clusters popping out.

 

The parks are still closed. The school are still closed (and they won't open on june 14 in BKK that's for sure), etc.

 

[NorthernRyland]

33 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I mentioned nothing about birth-rates, especially in Africa... don't confuse my post with other issues.

You responded to the comment "70-80 million people got added to the world population last year during this pandemic."

 

That's happening primarily in Africa right? Either way you correlated birth rates with capitalism so we can only guess what you were thinking.

[Bobydog]

16 hours ago, Airalee said:

With this news, plus all the hotels, tour agencies, etc etc etc closing, how is it that they arrive at an official 2%(ish) unemployment rate?

Lying or using the dartboard game for figures!

[Madeline Thompson]

Finally! attention to a situation that is no longer tenable for restaurants across Thailand, that has killed the life of its cities, Chiang Mai being one of the hardest hit.  How does the Junta expect tourists to come to a country where you will be arrested for drinking alcohol in public, where you are forbidden a glass of wine with your dinner, where everything you love about being on vacation can be taken away with a simple decree from the Covid Czar.  This is ludicrous - Thailand as a tourist destination is rapidly disappearing because there will be no infrastructure for tourism left.

[Nanaplaza666]

4 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

My lady , when I'm in Thailand, got a job in a new restaurant in Bangkok as she lost her job as a hairdresser because of the lack of business .. She finished work exhausted today.. 12hr shift  , it was so busy for takeaway... she said they did 200 takeaway mains and 300 coffees in the day... I know it's a holiday today , but that's still a good day ... especially for a new venture .. Life in the city yet ..be it mostly local.

But you are talking about a few out of a <deleted>. load that did went out of business . 

Compare the ones that are busy against the ones that went out of business or hanging on by a threat . 

[shackleton]

The bottom line is for the population to be vaccinated 

Then the Tourists will return and businesses can start reopening 

Will find out soon with Phuket sandbox being a example  of the vaccinated returning  in July ( Maybe )

[Lazybones]

2 hours ago, BestB said:

1 common factor in all sad stories, no assistance from the government in any shape or form.

 

Year ago, promised soft loans for the businesses never made it to the businesses, just disappeared into a thin air.

 

BOT suggested business owners speak with the banks they have business accounts with for loans, only to be told bank does not lend to tourism related businesses, including restaurants.

 

Big head keeps coming up with stimulus packages only no one seems to see or feel it effects.

Last week Victoria announced a grant of $3,500 for restaurants for the week lockdown. When it was extended for another week they gave another $3,500.

[thasoss]

1 hour ago, Bobydog said:

Lying or using the dartboard game for figures!

they have no way of knowing the true unemployment rate because only those in "proper employment" pay into social security,and that gives them a figure of how many apply for welfare.

[topcat333]

Just venting frustration….but this goes right along with allowing to tourist industry to start truly reopening.

Does this make sense? If you want to participate in the Phuket Sandbox project starting July 1 “with the current plan” the only way there is by international flight from another country to Phuket.  This means you must arrange your flight from your country to Dubai, Doho or Singapore to get a connecting flight to Phuket. Not only is it costly to get there but it’s also difficult. You can’t fly into BKK and catch another flight to Phuket. It’s not allowed.

What makes sense would be a flight into BKK with a daily flight for tourists from BKK to Phuket. Then the travelers would likely come. The way it is now offers as much success as the Thai Elite Visa program.

Does this make sense? If you are vaccinated and fly into BKK you still must spend 14 days in quarantine but if you fly direct to Phuket only 7 days with few limitations as long as you are on the island, and then after 7 days you can travel anywhere in Thailand.

What makes more sense is for fully vaccinated arrivals to BKK only quarantine 7 days.  I could live with that, but who in their right mind would sit in a hotel for 14 days on a 25 to 30 day stay in Thailand.

I’m frustrated because I’ve waited patiently for the past 16 months for some type of normalcy to arrive and now, while normal has returned to me here it’s a long way off over there.

I have a Thai Girlfriend and we have been together 7 years. We both work, she in BKK and I in my country. We spend a few months a year together and plan to continue this way for another few years when we both will retire. My motivation for coming to Thailand is greater than most. Further, we have the financial ability to pay the high costs associated with the honor to enter Thailand in these difficult times, but this by no means constitutes reasoning to throw money away for the honor of sitting in a Hotel by myself for 14 days or flying around the world just to catch an International connecting flight to Phuket. You really have to wonder who comes up with these crazy ideas that are only partially hatched and then believes they will actually work?

[thasoss]

1 hour ago, Madeline Thompson said:

Finally! attention to a situation that is no longer tenable for restaurants across Thailand, that has killed the life of its cities, Chiang Mai being one of the hardest hit.  How does the Junta expect tourists to come to a country where you will be arrested for drinking alcohol in public, where you are forbidden a glass of wine with your dinner, where everything you love about being on vacation can be taken away with a simple decree from the Covid Czar.  This is ludicrous - Thailand as a tourist destination is rapidly disappearing because there will be no infrastructure for tourism left.

they don't care,they hate foreigners....one's who live here and tourists alike.