Patong faces ruin if curfew continues, says entertainment boss

[Lite Beer]

Patong faces ruin if curfew continues, says entertainment boss
Phuket Gazette -

The streets of Patong were empty last night as the 10pm to 5am curfew shrouded the resort town. The curfew returns tonight. Photo: Patong Police

PHUKET: Patong, known throughout the world for its throbbing nightlife, is looking at its second night under the military curfew imposed by coup leader Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The curfew bans all unsanctioned travel on the streets from 10pm to 5am (story here).

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Ong-art Phiewruangnont at 5pm today confirmed that the curfew will remain in effect throughout Phuket for at least one more day.

"We have received no special instructions. The nationwide curfew will remain in effect until further notice," he told the Phuket Gazette.

Maj Gen Ong-art was returning from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, where he joined Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut at a briefing this afternoon at the Royal Thai Army Fourth Area Command (story here).

Patong's normally busy streets were quiet last night in observance of the curfew, leading the local entertainment boss to warn of the town’s ruin if the curfew continues.

“We were affected big time last night,” said Weerawit Kurasombat, president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association.

“If this curfew continues, it will be even worse than the tsunami. At least tourists could understand the tsunami was a natural disaster.

“The financial losses are serious, but they are nothing compared to loss of image. Tourists will stop coming if they believe they can’t have a good time here, and it will take a very long time to regain their confidence.”

The town was calm last night, said Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan.

“No arrests were made because nobody was caught breaking the curfew,” he said.

“I respect the law,” noted Mr Weerawit, “but Phuket is a tourist destination free from political violence.

“I want high-ranking officers on the island to understand my concern, and I’m hoping they can do something to help.”

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Patong-faces-ruin-curfew-continues-says-entertainment/29538#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-05-23

[Showbags]

Big cry babies...the amount of money they have squirreled away with their prices for everything over the years.....if they cannot hold themselves out over a few days or even weeks, then they should not be in business being such pee poor managers.

[eezergood]

Big cry babies...the amount of money they have squirreled away with their prices for everything over the years.....if they cannot hold themselves out over a few days or even weeks, then they should not be in business being such pee poor managers.

EXACLTY!!!! Never heard such nonsense!

[Loptr]

known throughout the world for its throbbing nightlife

Really? You could have fooled me.

[dcutman]

Big cry babies...the amount of money they have squirreled away with their prices for everything over the years.....if they cannot hold themselves out over a few days or even weeks, then they should not be in business being such pee poor managers.

EXACLTY!!!! Never heard such nonsense!

My shop is not in Patong, but, I am open 24/7 normally, and this curfew cut yesterdays revenue 60% .Not to mention a whole shift of staff. So no, it is not nonsense, it hurts.

[eezergood]

Big cry babies...the amount of money they have squirreled away with their prices for everything over the years.....if they cannot hold themselves out over a few days or even weeks, then they should not be in business being such pee poor managers.

EXACLTY!!!! Never heard such nonsense!

My shop is not in Patong, but, I am open 24/7 normally, and this curfew cut yesterdays revenue 60% .Not to mention a whole shift of staff. So no, it is not nonsense, it hurts.

#1 you are not in Patong and I assume not one of the members of the entertainment club?

These people, in the majority, have had businesses here for years and years. They drive mercs, bmws etc... if they cannot ride out this storm (of which anyone with a high school education could see coming) then you should not be in business!

Furthermore, Patong will not whatsoever face ruin!! Downturn, yes. This will hardly be a total financial collapse, so yes its total nonsense!

[keestha]

Big cry babies...the amount of money they have squirreled away with their prices for everything over the years.....if they cannot hold themselves out over a few days or even weeks, then they should not be in business being such pee poor managers.

Bars will be most heavily affected by the curfew, and they have a hard time staying afloat financially anyway. Not realistic to think a Patong beer bar which charges 80/90 Baht for a Leo beer is a goldmine. Just compare it to a busy bar in your native country, where the barkeeper has to stop taking orders sometimes in order to rinse glasses.

Edited May 23, 2014 by keestha

[Dogmatix]

In times gone by people used to take a stack of paperback novels with them on holiday.

[dcutman]

Big cry babies...the amount of money they have squirreled away with their prices for everything over the years.....if they cannot hold themselves out over a few days or even weeks, then they should not be in business being such pee poor managers.

EXACLTY!!!! Never heard such nonsense!

My shop is not in Patong, but, I am open 24/7 normally, and this curfew cut yesterdays revenue 60% .Not to mention a whole shift of staff. So no, it is not nonsense, it hurts.

#1 you are not in Patong and I assume not one of the members of the entertainment club?

These people, in the majority, have had businesses here for years and years. They drive mercs, bmws etc... if they cannot ride out this storm (of which anyone with a high school education could see coming) then you should not be in business!

Furthermore, Patong will not whatsoever face ruin!! Downturn, yes. This will hardly be a total financial collapse, so yes its total nonsense!

You are correct with your first point and should be quite obvious from my original post.

#1 If your actually read and comprehend the article. It is not about "members of the Patong entertainment club"

It is really about how business in (Patong) a high nightlife tourist areas that are being effected by this curfew.

#2 How would you know how all businesses are being effected by this ?

[ALFREDO]

Not going out ok, but in the room no TV channels working! So, the DVD players and DVDs are sold out?

[ovenman]

There are any number of people who I can sympathize with during these unsettled times but Patong entertainment bosses are not amongst that number.

[Morakot]

president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association

Is this like a super-pimp?

[robertthebruce]

Have to laugh at that quote ''Patong is known worldwide for its 'Throbbing Night LIfe'' ???

I dont think so,its known as a Sleaze Pitt , similar to ''Pattaya''...

London New York Milan ... Yes, thats known for ''Throbbing Night LIfe'' ....

[robertthebruce]

known throughout the world for its throbbing nightlife

Really? You could have fooled me.

Totally agree with you its a DIVE....

[Payboy]

throbbing nightlife

Bunch of ladyboys shivering in the rain.

[Old Croc]

In times gone by people used to take a stack of paperback novels with them on holiday.

Nicely packed in their steamer trunks next to their dinner suit for formal occasions.

[wackysleet]

There is probably a lot of things that do throb at night in Patong but not so sure it's the entertainment.

[NomadJoe]

Bangla Rd. at 1230am this morning.

[Guest]

Bangla Rd. at 1230am this morning.

First I wondered how the heck did you manage to get the picture Thanks for sharing as it's not possible for us others to see the streets during the night.

Did you took any pictures of the Bangla road or beach road (if empty or with few people around)?

[Old Croc]

Bangla Rd. at 1230am this morning.

First I wondered how the heck did you manage to get the picture Thanks for sharing as it's not possible for us others to see the streets during the night.

Did you took any pictures of the Bangla road or beach road (if empty or with few people around)?

The clue would be with the white faces in that picture.

Which raises the question: what are volunteer police doing enforcing a curfew?

[Somtamnication]

Glad all the tailor touts, tuk tuks, slow loris and iguana touts are all at home, sleeping like a baby. . I do feel for the business owners.

[harrry]

Bangla Rd. at 1230am this morning.

First I wondered how the heck did you manage to get the picture Thanks for sharing as it's not possible for us others to see the streets during the night.

Did you took any pictures of the Bangla road or beach road (if empty or with few people around)?

The clue would be with the white faces in that picture.

Which raises the question: what are volunteer police doing enforcing a curfew?

One of the few times I agree with their use. They could be very useful in translating the information needed to tell the tourists what they are required to do in a curfew and the consequences if they do not.,

[Johnnie99]

Pathetic. What - can't get your new 'Benz' this year?

Farcical.

[farangbanok]

Bliss bliss bliss

The curfew is great, I can sleep at night now.

No "Big phat be-ass" sounds thumping out from 23.00 to 04.00 every night.

Good stuff!

[jackh]

If this report is true, which I doubt, I hope the curfew will last another week or so. Patong ought to be shut down anyway. Flush all the mafia, tuk tuk, scammers out of Phuket for good.

Patong is a waste of prime real estate.

[stevehaigh]

phuket is a yellow shirt stronghold, 'som nam naa'!!!

[bluebluewater]

I need to get back to my regular schedule of drinkin' and shaggin' !!

It's a health thing . . . .

[BKKdreaming]

what did you expect him to say ?

please close me down at 7pm ?

of course he is going to say to the press that he is going broke, and would probably have said the same thing a month ago, a year ago or 5 years ago to a reporter......

if he ever says I am making too much money everyone will want a piece of that "extra" money

its just the company line

[godden]

Who do i send my donation to.

[Seashore]

Best news I have heard all day!!