Bangkok Implements Stricter Regulations for Street Vendors

[webfact]

 

In an effort to reorganise public spaces and enhance street cleanliness, Bangkok's Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has announced plans to enforce stricter regulations on street vendors within the city. This initiative underlines the city's commitment to fostering a more orderly and hygienic environment.

 

Under these new regulations, vendors operating in officially recognised areas will need to comply with income assessments and taxation. Specifically, those earning over 25,000 baht monthly will be mandated to pay taxes. Additionally, all street vendors will be required to register with the national income and tax system to continue trading.

 

Another critical aspect of the regulations is the strict enforcement of trading within designated zones. Vendors will need to ensure their activities do not obstruct pedestrian pathways and that their areas of operation remain clean. Non-compliance with these stipulations could result in a ban on their vending activities.

 

 

While vending will still be allowed in certain areas, this will be conditional on adherence to the new rules. The overarching aim, however, is to phase out street vending progressively. The city envisions transitioning vendors into commercial zones and is seeking partnerships with businesses to offer affordable rental spaces for these vendors.

 

The proposed changes are slated to go through a public hearing process, allowing community feedback to shape the final regulations. This inclusive approach underscores the city's intention to balance public order with the livelihoods of street vendors. 

 

As Bangkok takes these significant steps, the city hopes to create a harmonious urban experience that benefits both residents and vendors, leading to a cleaner, more organised public space.

 

-- 2024-06-03

 

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[Korat Kiwi]

I miss the old ramshackle ways when nighttime street vendors set up their wares on Sukhumvit road. 

 

Sure it was a pain if you were trying to go somewhere quick but the ambience was unique to the area. 

 

Haggling with vendors to get a few baht discount. Watching tourists that had no clue pay top dollar.  

 

But as they say,  time stands still for no man. 

[ChrisY1]

There must be reams of "strict" regulations for these vendors...none have ever been effective!

[OneMoreFarang]

How about removing all those taxi-no-meter from the streets. It would clear up a lot of space which would be good for the traffic flow. And in times with not so much traffic it could be used for street vendors. 

[Emdog]

"The overarching aim, however, is to phase out street vending progressively." And which clueless moron in government who got job via uncle came up with this insipid idea? Bangkok is world famous for street food.... a major tourist draw.... and they want to eliminate that. I've been here 20+ years and have found street food has less of a chance of making me sick than restaurant fare. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Under these new regulations, vendors operating in officially recognised areas will need to comply with income assessments and taxation. Specifically, those earning over 25,000 baht monthly will be mandated to pay taxes. Additionally, all street vendors will be required to register with the national income and tax system to continue trading.

No more cash in hand every day but I never make any money excuses.

[khunjeff]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This initiative underlines the city's commitment to fostering a more orderly and hygienic environment.

 

No, it doesn't - it underlines that certain officials have no understanding of what the city's soul is, but want to show off their own power. 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Under these new regulations, vendors operating in officially recognised areas will need to comply with income assessments and taxation.

 

Please remind me how "comply[ing] with income assessments and taxation" makes the environment more "orderly and hygienic"? And while it's theoretically true that everyone should pay the taxes that they owe, exactly how much will be collected from vendors making less than 25k per month?

 

And whenever this subject comes up, some official will start yapping about how they want to make Bangkok "more like Singapore". Leaving aside the question of whether that's even a desirable goal, do they know that Singapore built its hawker centers and THEN moved the vendors off the street, rather than kicking them out today with a vague promise of an indoor selling area to appear (magically) at some indeterminate point in the future?

[Will B Good]

Big business trying to force people into restaurants.......slowly destroying locals livelihoods. 

[Photoguy21]

3 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

There must be reams of "strict" regulations for these vendors...none have ever been effective!

Dont they adopt the attitude of Judge Roy Bean?

[NativeBob]

nice lady selling kao-man-kai from 4PM till 8PM made not less 100K per month. Small biz they say?
I don't think so, Tim!

[jvs]

Maybe the government should provide a place to put the used cooking oil?

The drains are not made for this.

[anon7854]

7 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Big business trying to force people into restaurants.......slowly destroying locals livelihoods. 

Nothing to do with big business. Street food vendors have little to no impact. Go check food courts in malls and then compare to the insignificant street seller.

This is just government trying to upgrade the face of Thailand to a more demanding type of tourist.

Edited June 3 by anon7854

[freeworld]

21 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Big business trying to force people into restaurants.......slowly destroying locals livelihoods. 

I think its more to get people to pay rents (more control, rates, fees and taxes) and less govt to clean up around (savings)

 

It sure is changing the character of Thailand.

Edited June 3 by freeworld

[Celsius]

long overdue especially if they will be taxing Farang with no benefits in return.

 

300k tax free. no wonder the country is broke 

[PETERTHEEATER]

14 minutes ago, jvs said:

Maybe the government should provide a place to put the used cooking oil?

The drains are not made for this.

One man's used cooking oil is another mans fresh cooking oil. 😀

[Keep Right]

Street food prepared in the polluted filthy streets of Bangkok has sent many tourists to the hospital with food poisoning. Eating filthy street food can cause long lasting severe health issues. It is not worth it to consume this filth to save a few baht.

[WilliamSmits]

Competing with Singapore for few food court tourists, while the rest goes elsewhere?

I do hope all vendors are making more than 25000 monthly. After "costs & paying for the location & services" not much left to tax

[Korat Kiwi]

3 hours ago, Keep Right said:

Street food prepared in the polluted filthy streets of Bangkok has sent many tourists to the hospital with food poisoning. Eating filthy street food can cause long lasting severe health issues. It is not worth it to consume this filth to save a few baht.

I've had street food in many countries without any health issues including Thailand. 

 

I was warned never to have seafood in Hong Kong and yet never suffered when I did. 

 

Maybe I have a cast iron gut? 

 

Yet my 1st wife got food poisoning from McDonald's in Singapore in the 80s.

 

Id love to see the statistics of tourists admitted to hospital as a result of eating street food in Bangkok... 

 

Eating filthy food anywhere can cause problems. 

[khaowong1]

10 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I miss the old ramshackle ways when nighttime street vendors set up their wares on Sukhumvit road. 

 

Sure it was a pain if you were trying to go somewhere quick but the ambience was unique to the area. 

 

Haggling with vendors to get a few baht discount. Watching tourists that had no clue pay top dollar.  

 

But as they say,  time stands still for no man. 

Yes, me too... They were a pain in the butt sometimes, but I loved looking at everything.  

[stoner]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

This initiative underlines the city's commitment to fostering a more orderly and hygienic environment.

 

and then..

 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Under these new regulations, vendors operating in officially recognised areas will need to comply with income assessments and taxation.

 

i'm a little slow so can someone help me make the connection between these 2. 

[Robert Paulson]

So many hand palm posts. People just never seem to get it

[NoshowJones]

14 hours ago, khaowong1 said:

Yes, me too... They were a pain in the butt sometimes, but I loved looking at everything.  

I remember them, they were forcing people to walk on the busy Sukhumvit road to the danger of being hit by traffic.