1,500 Restaurants In Bangkok Close On Red-Shirts Rally

[webfact]

Some 1,500 food venues in BKK close on rally

By Suchat Sritama

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some 1,500 Bangkok restaurant and food shop members of the Thai Restaurant Association have temporary closed due to the lack of customers, especially tourists.

"Food sales at our members in Bangkok are falling by 70 per cent. Those with many branches have transferred employees to unaffected areas, but many standalone shops have laid off their workers," Choomporn Sukprasongphol, the association's business development consultant, said yesterday.

Most of the operators were in the Ratchaprasong, Silom, Sathorn and other key tourist areas. More than 4,500 staff are affected from the short-term closure.

TRA members in Bangkok have already lost Bt10 billion or half of the total restaurant market. The damage excludes losses in the provinces.

Tanaporn Markawat, managing director of Nai Exquisite Thai Restaurant in Silom, said business has dropped by 80 per cent since customers disappeared.

It allowed 70 per cent of its workforce to take leave without pay.

To deal with the crisis, it is planning to introduce a home delivery service next month at 30-40-per-cent lower prices. The new service will be aimed at residences nearby.

It is also planning to open a cooking school soon to approach expatriates who want to learn how to prepare Thai cuisine.

Choomporn said that out of the 300,000 food shops and restaurants nationwide, 30,000 are TRA members and 6,000 are in Bangkok.

Business at restaurants and food shops upcountry particularly in tourist cities is also slow, as visitors have grown scarce.

Chitsanupong Atilukkanametee from the Tourism Development Office said international tourists have switched to Malaysia and Singapore because of the unrest here. However, they should return to Thailand after the political problem is solved.

TRA has asked the Commerce Ministry to help by extending the moratorium on loan payments for five years.

TRA yesterday signed an agreement with Restaurants of Bangkok Co to open a new restaurant website at www.RestaurantsOfBangkok.com to promote and develop local restaurant businesses and the tourism industry.

"Online communities are playing an ever-growing role in urban life, and the Internet has become a powerful marketing and public relations tool giving instant access to target groups and influencing consumers' decisions," said Willem Deenik, director of Restaurants of Bangkok.

The new channel is expected help operators attract more customers both local and foreign through social media including Facebook and Twitter.

About 1,000 restaurants in Bangkok have already registered with the website.

-- The Nation 2010-05-13

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[AGareth2]

more takeaways at a lower price

something good may come of this

[Asa]

Yes, some exotic restaurants for tourists are suffering, but the number is a Bull. For ordinary food vendors in the area, the same number of affected mouths are only eating elsewhere. Follow the food supply chain and you will find them still around.

[eggomaniac]

Just remember, this is small paddies compared to what Sondhi, publicly, stated the Yellows will do the next time he does not get his way.

He said the airport closures were 'only' and example of what his gang can do.

Without taking to the streets, he will get all the Elite to withdraw money from the banks and completely destroy the Thai economy.

For every 1000 of them that could take out $1,000,000, there are probably a million reds who could take out $1000.

Either 'gang' could use that ''strategy". < he calls it a strategy, not me...

[Microwave]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

[selftaopath]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

I agree especially if corruption is at the core of Thai culture.

[givenall]

But as I hear the Red supporter restaurants provide daily food to the rally site. I think everyone should boycott these Red supporters, who are not affected themselves

[Tigs]

Just remember, this is small paddies compared to what Sondhi, publicly, stated the Yellows will do the next time he does not get his way.

He said the airport closures were 'only' and example of what his gang can do.

Without taking to the streets, he will get all the Elite to withdraw money from the banks and completely destroy the Thai economy.

For every 1000 of them that could take out $1,000,000, there are probably a million reds who could take out $1000.

Either 'gang' could use that ''strategy". < he calls it a strategy, not me...

It would have serious consequences, however there is one serious flaw with Sondhi's plan. He has forgotten how quickly he will lose 'friends' if he comes between them and their money! There would be no quicker way to lose 'elite' friends than suggest they withdraw their money from the banks. Do you think the elites would want to see the power of their money crash by 20-30% if the Thai economy nose-dived? they just wouldn't buy in to it (pun intended!). The question of the reds doing it is easier. They would not really make that much of an effect, and all the banks have to do is state that anyone participating in such a financial protest aimed at destroying the country's economy would have their accounts closed and would not be allowed any other banking or loan facilities again, from any bank. Problem solved.

Edited May 13, 2010 by Tigs

[bkkjames]

But as I hear the Red supporter restaurants provide daily food to the rally site. I think everyone should boycott these Red supporters, who are not affected themselves

Well I went on the site which is nicely designed and of the 1000 they say are listed only 9 have special offers - and the restaurant mentioned in the article I didn't see.

http://www.restaurantsofbangkok.com/offers

It really just for reviewing restaurants I guess kinda like a culinary trip adviser.

[IsaanAndy]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

I agree especially if corruption is at the core of Thai culture.

Corruption is at the core of Thai society, I thought that was a fact.

[TheMac]

more takeaways at a lower price

something good may come of this

I admire being able to joke about it. But true I also hope something good comes out of this but not cheaper takeways as the lower profit of owners will directly be impacted on the employee.

[TheMac]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

I agree especially if corruption is at the core of Thai culture.

Corruption is at the core of Thai society, I thought that was a fact.

Divide to reign

[animatic]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

I agree especially if corruption is at the core of Thai culture.

Which explains the inaction of the police on many levels to embarrass and remove Abhisit.

Less so Suthep, because he publicly backed the police head against being replaced by Abhisits man (in as a temp still)

and so kept some goodwill of the police brass as head of Security. Still the police want Abhisit out, since he,

more than any previous PM, has shut down levels of SOP corruption, and that means people lose income and power.

Has he proven 100% effective or untainted, of course not, but he is a signal at the top; change is possible in the long run.

There are many who would prefer the PTP SOP curruption stance for their personal enrichment.

Thaksin being ex-police comes from that culture of enrichment through power,

and explains quite abit about his mindset, and of those that back him.

Edited May 13, 2010 by animatic

[NCFC]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

I agree especially if corruption is at the core of Thai culture.

Which explains the inaction of the police on many levels to embarrass and remove Abhisit.

Less so Suthep, because he publicly backed the police head against being replaced by Abhisits man (in as a temp still)

and so kept some goodwill of the police brass as head of Security. Still the police want Abhisit out, since he,

more than any previous PM, has shut down levels of SOP corruption, and that means people lose income and power.

Has he proven 100% effective or untainted, of course not, but he is a signal at the top; change is possible in the long run.

There are many who would prefer the PTP SOP curruption stance for their personal enrichment.

Thaksin being ex-police comes from that culture of enrichment through power,

and explains quite abit about his mindset, and of those that back him.

Animatic, could you expand on that statement that Abhisit, "more than any previous PM, has shut down levels of SOP corruption"?

What has he done specifically and could you link to references? It would be enlightening to many on here if you could?

Thanks.

[Robby nz]

If it was McDonalds that was shut down that would starve out at least one of the red leaders

[Motoon]

Which explains the inaction of the police on many levels to embarrass and remove Abhisit.

Less so Suthep, because he publicly backed the police head against being replaced by Abhisits man (in as a temp still)

and so kept some goodwill of the police brass as head of Security. Still the police want Abhisit out, since he,

more than any previous PM, has shut down levels of SOP corruption, and that means people lose income and power.

Has he proven 100% effective or untainted, of course not, but he is a signal at the top; change is possible in the long run.

There are many who would prefer the PTP SOP curruption stance for their personal enrichment.

Thaksin being ex-police comes from that culture of enrichment through power,

and explains quite abit about his mindset, and of those that back him.

Makes sense...although I noted an increase of (smaller) police doing their street routine again...

[Motoon]

Yes, some exotic restaurants for tourists are suffering, but the number is a Bull. For ordinary food vendors in the area, the same number of affected mouths are only eating elsewhere. Follow the food supply chain and you will find them still around.

Last night I was eating at the jetski place close to ringroad. Nice setting, great food, it was packed at 7pm and remained busy until 12pm. So the money is still spent, just elsewhere...

[surangw]

Yes, some exotic restaurants for tourists are suffering, but the number is a Bull. For ordinary food vendors in the area, the same number of affected mouths are only eating elsewhere. Follow the food supply chain and you will find them still around.

Last night I was eating at the jetski place close to ringroad. Nice setting, great food, it was packed at 7pm and remained busy until 12pm. So the money is still spent, just elsewhere...

people gotta eat, next logical step would be cut access to toilet access

[surangw]

Expect customers to return after the political problem is solved? I'd certainly like for the political problem to have been solved a long time ago instead of morphing into what it has become. I have my doubts as to whether or not the class divide and the geographic divide will ever be solved...

I agree especially if corruption is at the core of Thai culture.

Corruption is at the core of Thai society, I thought that was a fact.

Divide to reign

Corruption is at the core of Thai society, I thought that was a fact.

in the us its called the "good ol' boy system"