Nightclubs Push For Longer Opening Hours

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Clubs and bars are asking the government to extend the opening hours until 4 a.m., in a bit to boost the economy as the tourism sector starts to recover.

 

Nightlife business owners are gunning for the government to allow them to open until later into the early morning at 4 a.m., from the current mandated closing time of 2 a.m. Businesses in tourist hotspots expect this measure will help boost the economy and bolster the sector’s recovery, with a 20-30% jump in revenue expected.

 

Mr. Sanga Reuangwattanakun, President of the Khao San Road Business Association, said this request will be proposed to Cabinet at next week’s Cabinet meeting by the Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn.

 

He said he agrees with the proposal to pilot this opening hours extension only at specific zones, namely Khao San Road, Soi Cowboy, and Soi Patpong in Bangkok, as well as Bangla walking street in Phuket, and other tourist hotspots in Krabi, Phang Nga, Samui, and Pattaya.

 

Mr. Sanga said a zoning regulation like this will help facilitate the work of officers in terms of drunk driving suppression, suggesting checkpoints placed around these zonings would encourage people to take more taxis, helping provide more income to taxi drivers.

 

Mr. Weerawit Krueasombat, President of Patong Entertainment Association in Phuket, said the association has been submitting formal requests to several agencies for the closing time extension until 4 a.m., to better accommodate tourists in the area.

 

He said the longer opening hours will better meet the lifestyle of tourists from Europe, who usually start visiting nightclubs around 10-11 p.m.

 

The Thai Public Taxi Association says they are willing to support and comply with the new regulation. Taxi drivers have also been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They have adjusted to the situation by refitting their cabin with partitions and serving COVID-19 patients during the time of peak transmission when the number of regular passengers greatly diminished.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221129092933050

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-29

 

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[KannikaP]

11 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

will help boost the economy and bolster the sector’s recovery, with a 20-30% jump in revenue expected.

In their wildest dreams. How much dosh will they take from p...sheads in that final 2 hours. Sweet Football Association!

[Phuket Stan]

11 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

In their wildest dreams. How much dosh will they take from p...sheads in that final 2 hours. Sweet Football Association!

Are your remarks from actual business experience ....if so what country

 

[DezLez]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

In their wildest dreams. How much dosh will they take from p...sheads in that final 2 hours. Sweet Football Association!

If they could stay open till 4AM legally just now with the world cup they would make a fortune (legally)!

We are talking tourists who have interests in different time zones!

[DezLez]

59 minutes ago, Phuket Stan said:

Are your remarks from actual business experience ....if so what country

 

If from business, it was obviously not in Thailand. 

I have done it here!

Staying open late, in a quiet(ish) tourist area, with your local BIB Seargent, given his appropriate brown envelope, you "advertise" the sport/TV programme to the nationalities in that area for their occasion(s) at the time that suit them.

 

We are not talking about people coming out to watch EastEnders!

[smedly]

I was out last night and 2am comes very quickly, sitting in a busy pub at 1:45am and everyone was told to leave, every customer (tourist) in the place was very angry - a holiday night out came to an abrupt end just when it was beginning - this is total ##

 

If Thailand wants tourists they are going to have to get this country back to normal (pre Covid) and fast, friend of mine who came here for a holiday over the last 6 months will not be returning until they get this sorted out.

[jacko45k]

11 hours ago, DezLez said:

If they could stay open till 4AM legally just now with the world cup they would make a fortune (legally)!

We are talking tourists who have interests in different time zones!

So we can have 4am closing for a month once every 4 years? Of course 4am would not work so well next time in the Americas. 

[JayClay]

10 hours ago, smedly said:

If Thailand wants tourists they are going to have to get this country back to normal (pre Covid) and fast,

Closing times now are the same as they were pre-covid.

[DezLez]

12 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

So we can have 4am closing for a month once every 4 years? Of course 4am would not work so well next time in the Americas. 

The present world cup is only one example! There are many things on TV for example which suit people from different countries at different times of the day.  

[jacko45k]

18 minutes ago, JayClay said:

Closing times now are the same as they were pre-covid.

And believe it or not, they got tourists too. They could get more if airfares were cheaper. 

[jacko45k]

20 minutes ago, DezLez said:

The present world cup is only one example! There are many things on TV for example which suit people from different countries at different times of the day.  

It is the only thing I can think of with such a wide range of appeal, all of Europe, Middle East, even Asia.... the Olympics does not have the same sporting appeal or link to the bar scene.  I think a special licensing schedule for the period of the World Cup, in all the entertainment centres, would be/ have been a great solution. 

Perhaps the Rugby World Cup as it brings the antipodeans into the mix. 

 

But more generally, I don't think 4am closing is a great or needed idea... particularly in the Thai nightlife scene with the propensity to drink and drive. 

Edited November 30, 2022 by jacko45k

[Sydebolle]

Not that I care (anymore; due to age) but it is a proven fact, that if the government works against market trends ........ 
In Thailand it is slightly different as "bending" rules and regulations usually result in some token of appreciation in mostly monetary form so guess, who benefits of NOT extending operating hours despite contradictory market developments - your call! 

[thailand49]

Normal what is it! 

I say the current closing is just fine whatever benefits the negatives outweighs it.  

Sure exceptions put them in one area but problem here the system is broken a conTribution brown envelope undo everything.

 

[Mickeymaus]

If they don't cause problems for other people like local residents, no problem. But the reality paints a completely different picture. They only care about their own benefit. There are endless complaints about such establishments. At many locations 2 o'clock closing time is too late already. Often such venues disturb many other people. But they don't care about such things. Now 4? Then 6? Then no legal closing times at all? Hopefully not. 

[jingjai9]

Why can't they set up a plan so bars are zoned within an area for each city so it is easier for the police to patrol? This way bars, pubs and night clubs could stay open.

The extension of opening hours could be codified, published and distributed on license applications, renewals, etc. for establishments that sell alcohol. Once the new laws are passed, all owners would be required to update their licenses by a particular date or be subjected to fines or other penalties.

Bars that operate without a license are in violation of the law. If bribery is a factor, that is the problem of corrupt officials, not law abiding entertainment venues. It would be wrong to restrict people's business opportunities because some officials are corrupt and greedy. On the other hand, business owners need to respect the laws. The problem however is that corruption seems to be the rule rather than the exception. This results in no respect for the law which probably renders this post as another example of intellectual masturbation. However, I persist.

 

Another possibility could be having foreigners agree to be deported if they are convicted of crimes related to intoxication (exhibitionism, disorderly conduct, urinating in public, etc.). This type of form would be signed and printed when people arrive for visas on arrival or extension of visas at immigration. This could be done in the same manner as when foreigners sign the agreement to be deported if they overstay. *Immigration has a chart stating the penalties for varying periods of overstay. 

 

There is a middle ground that would help keep both sides happy. 

 

* note - I am not suggesting that the period of time people are barred from entering Thailand should be based on the percent of alcohol in their system from the result of a blood alcohol content test, but rather based on a conviction.

[ikke1959]

Unbelievable the stupidity without borders..... More hours means more drugsabuse( all over the world the same) more alcoholabuse, more traffic accidents with injured and deaths... Don't they have brains at all only for the money?? And than I am wondering who are in the nightclubs? Nobody has to work the next day?

Edited November 30, 2022 by ikke1959

[ikke1959]

13 hours ago, smedly said:

I was out last night and 2am comes very quickly, sitting in a busy pub at 1:45am and everyone was told to leave, every customer (tourist) in the place was very angry - a holiday night out came to an abrupt end just when it was beginning - this is total ##

 

If Thailand wants tourists they are going to have to get this country back to normal (pre Covid) and fast, friend of mine who came here for a holiday over the last 6 months will not be returning until they get this sorted out.

But not all tourists come to stay in a bar till 4 am....and in many western countries the bars are closed at 1 or 2 am and in the weekend some maybe open longer... 

[alex8912]

42 minutes ago, jingjai9 said:

Why can't they set up a plan so bars are zoned within an area for each city so it is easier for the police to patrol? This way bars, pubs and night clubs could stay open.

The extension of opening hours could be codified, published and distributed on license applications, renewals, etc. for establishments that sell alcohol. Once the new laws are passed, all owners would be required to update their licenses by a particular date or be subjected to fines or other penalties.

Bars that operate without a license are in violation of the law. If bribery is a factor, that is the problem of corrupt officials, not law abiding entertainment venues. It would be wrong to restrict people's business opportunities because some officials are corrupt and greedy. On the other hand, business owners need to respect the laws. The problem however is that corruption seems to be the rule rather than the exception. This results in no respect for the law which probably renders this post as another example of intellectual masturbation. However, I persist.

 

Another possibility could be having foreigners agree to be deported if they are convicted of crimes related to intoxication (exhibitionism, disorderly conduct, urinating in public, etc.). This type of form would be signed and printed when people arrive for visas on arrival or extension of visas at immigration. This could be done in the same manner as when foreigners sign the agreement to be deported if they overstay. *Immigration has a chart stating the penalties for varying periods of overstay. 

 

There is a middle ground that would help keep both sides happy. 

 

* note - I am not suggesting that the period of time people are barred from entering Thailand should be based on the percent of alcohol in their system from the result of a blood alcohol content test, but rather based on a conviction.

OMG did you just say people who urinate in public should be deported??  I mean really???

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Clubs and bars are asking the government to extend the opening hours until 4 a.m., in a bit to boost the economy as the tourism sector starts to recover.

Most already are.