Prominent Pattaya business operators in the nightlife, entertainment, and bar sector have continued to call for support from local, regional, and national Thai government leaders after their businesses have been essentially frozen by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, after previous announcements that the nightlife, bar, and entertainment sector would not be allowed to open until after the holiday season in 2022.

 

Currently, even restaurants are forbidden from selling alcohol in Chonburi and Pattaya and the nightlife, bar, and entertainment sector, a main attraction of Pattaya, has been shuttered for almost eight months. This is despite some places, such as Koh Samui, Bangkok, and Phuket, having been granted exceptions for selling alcohol by the CCSA while other popular tourist places, like Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hua Hin remain dry.

 

Mr. Komkrit Prasitnarits from the Pattaya Walking Street & Tourism Association, who also has been an advisor for Pattaya City and the Pattaya City Council, stated on social media earlier this week, “Entertainment venues have essentially been closed for 13 months since March of 2020, and this year have only been allowed to open for about two months in February and March before being shuttered again. A recent announcement, seen here, that they would continue to be shut in Pattaya for at least two more months has further frustrated and upset business owners, staff, and even customers in the area. For coming on two years this sector has been the most disrupted and the first to close and last to open.”

 

“The truth is, in Chonburi, most of the Covid -19 confirmed cases are found in factories, military camps, markets, and small communities. Many cases are transfers from other provinces with less hospital capacity and attributed to Chonburi. These places are now opened as normal while entertainment venues remain closed and alcohol remains banned from being sold at restaurants in Chonburi.” Komkrit continued.

 

“No business sector should just be frozen like this because of fear. The government should work with the sector on measurements to prevent or control the spread of the virus in order to let entertainment and nightlife venues open, versus just continually close them, especially over the most festive and important time of the year.” Komkrit stated.

 

“Many “quality” tourists who go to tourist attractions, beaches, islands, temples, shopping, and other places in the daytime still enjoy going to nightlife after a day of sightseeing. To claim, as some have in the government, that they don’t is false. Keeping Pattaya’s famous nightlife shuttered, and especially even blocking restaurants from selling alcohol, hurts everyone and every industry in the city as many tourists are skipping the city entirely to go to Phuket or Bangkok.” Komkrit continued.

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/11/19/prominent-pattaya-business-owners-continue-to-call-for-pattaya-to-get-a-phuket-style-exemption-ending-pattaya-alcohol-sales-ban-at-restaurants/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-11-19

 

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I guess the governments announcement that they'll be closed over Christmas and New Year didn't go down too well.

Some people in Pattaya already planning on spending Xmas and New Year in Phuket.

The beaches were busy last night, and early hours. Maybe police turning a blind eye. 

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I guess the governments announcement that they'll be closed over Christmas and New Year didn't go down too well.

 

It killed any chance of a Pattaya high season, immediately.  Most cancelled their holiday here.    

18 hours ago, fulhamster said:

Some people in Pattaya already planning on spending Xmas and New Year in Phuket.

Yes that makes sense.... even a trip to Bangkok maybe. Although I bet more come from Bangkok to Pattaya.