Curfew may be lifted in Phuket and Pattaya

[george]

Curfew may be lifted in Phuket and Pattaya

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is considering lifting the midnight to 4 .00 a.m. curfew in Phuket and Pattaya after realizing its negative impact on the country’s tourism which contribute up to 10% of GDP.

NCPO deputy spokesman Col Nattawat Chancharoen said consideration of the curfew lift came after the NCPO head Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha received complaints from the private sector of inconvenience and negative impact felt by businesses in tourist-frequented province, and dropping revenues.

The businesses include entertain places, restaurants and nightspots.

The army deputy spokesman said that Gen Prayuth has instructed his working groups on economic and security affairs to assess the situation in these tourist-frequented provinces namely Phuket and Pattaya.

He said the NCPO head indicated of lifting the night curfew to restore tourism in provinces where there is no coup resistance.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry revealed recently that although the number of foreign tourists would decline after martial law was declared, Chinese tourists who were then in Pattaya did not rush home as they were told by their government, the spokesman said.

This was obviously because the Chinese tourists did not see any harm and violence in Thailand even after the coup, he said.

He added several teams would be sent to various tourist destinations to assess the situation. If the situation in those areas is normal, the curfew may be lifted selectively, adding that decision would be expected next week.

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-28

[grantbkk]

Awesome!

[JetsetBkk]

Yeah, but can we have the telly back?

Sick to death of SyFy and Universal.

[JetsetBkk]

He added several teams would be sent to various tourist destinations to assess the situation.

[taony]

and soi cowboy, nana, and patpong

[JDW799]

About time.......GoGo, Beer Bar and Soi 6 Bar owners in Pattaya are being uniformly hurt economically, as well as the girls and on and on downstream.....not much Pheu Thai down here..........

Let's get it back to normal ......the night before the coup, at 2AM, Nana was rocking.......I took a 7am flight to Manila, just in time

[hidavey]

This is how a real leader solve it's problems in an honest way...

[DrTuner]

This is awful. It means the traffic in Pattaya will gridlock completely from Friday until Sunday when the BKK hordes descend upon us. Time to restock the fridge.

[arminbkk]

NCPO is sure taking quick steps and making the right moves.

First allowing the TV channels back on, then making the farmers happy, then easing the curfew, now making the tourists and staff in Pattaya and Phuket happy.

All popular moves.

First deprive, then give back.

[bigbamboo]

Better late than never but these soldier boys are at least able to think on the feet and so far are mostly making all the right moves. The censorship is an issue though.

If the generally relaxed reaction to the coup in CM is anything to go by the curfew can be lifted here and elsewhere soon as well.

Edited May 28, 2014 by bigbamboo

[surangw]

the curtain of curfew has been flapping in the breeze all along,

[Bellacissa]

My vacation is saved! (Because it's all about me you know...)

Seriously, though. I'm happy that they are slowly loosening the reins. For better or worse, Pattaya depends HEAVILY on the tourism dollars.

[Skint]

My vacation is saved! (Because it's all about me you know...)

Seriously, though. I'm happy that they are slowly loosening the reins. For better or worse, Pattaya depends HEAVILY on the tourism dollars.

That would be sex tourism dollars

[Bellacissa]

My vacation is saved! (Because it's all about me you know...)

Seriously, though. I'm happy that they are slowly loosening the reins. For better or worse, Pattaya depends HEAVILY on the tourism dollars.

That would be sex tourism dollars

Of course. I don't think there's anyone out there that isn't aware of that. Although there are other things to do in Pattaya, that's a huge part of it. But, at the same time, all those sexed up tourists have to eat and sleep somewhere. So, there's also money being spent there that isn't directly tied to Walking Street.

[Tywais]

Nonsense post removed.

[Tokay]

Sex tourism saves the day again.

The good General knows what really fuels the tourist areas, and it isn't the beaches.

[Thailand]

I am guessing that there have been huge complaints from those that have lots of influential fingers in lots of nighttime pies around Thailand about their loss of big bucks, the tourists are likely to be incidental.

[tezzainoz]

I think we need to look at the long term situation

a short time pain

to achieve a long time better Thailand

[retsdon]

If I were Thai, this wouldn't be endearing me to the powers that be. In the little one soi village next to us the army rolls theough every night, ordering people home at 9pm. Small businesses are losing money, people are being dragooned in their own street. Meanwhile, got to keep the tourists happy. Whose country is it anyway?

[chooka]

It's all about the tourist dollar.

[retsdon]

I think we need to look at the long term situation

a short time pain

to achieve a long time better Thailand

There is no long term situation. This is how it is.

[Spoonman]

This is awful. It means the traffic in Pattaya will gridlock completely from Friday until Sunday when the BKK hordes descend upon us. Time to restock the fridge.

So it will just go to normal then.

[webfact]

CURFEW
Army eyes lifting curfew in tourist areas
Nakarin Srilert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The military is thinking about lifting the curfew in tourist destinations such as Phuket and Pattaya, provided there are no signs of unrest in those areas.

Colonel Nattawat Chancharoen, deputy spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order, said yesterday that this came after the NCPO's chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, was told about how the nationwide curfew was hurting businesses badly. The 10pm-to-5am curfew had been particularly tough on restaurants, entertainment venues and other tourism-related businesses.

The curfew hours were shortened yesterday to midnight to 4am.

Meanwhile, the NCPO has assigned working committees in charge of the economy and security to assess the situation in tourist destinations.

"If there are no signs of unrest or anti-coup protests, then the NCPO might consider cancelling the curfew on a case-by-case basis," the spokesman said, adding that a decision on the matter should be made by next week.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry recently reported that the number of tourist arrivals had dropped since martial law was declared on May 19. Still, some 4,000 Chinese tourists went ahead with their travel itinerary, which included Pattaya, despite an advisory from the Chinese government.

The Federation of Thai Industries, meanwhile, has lowered this year's target for tourist arrivals to 26.8 million from 28 million mainly because of the political unrest.

Shops open longer

Separately, Robinson and Central department stores in Bangkok and elsewhere will now close at 10pm, as well as all branches of The Mall, the Emporium and Siam Paragon.

Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart will also close at midnight instead of 10pm.


-- The Nation 2014-05-29

[NongKhaiKid]

There's so many areas around the country that welcome tourism so there's bound to be a natural " what about us ? " attitude.

[slipperylobster]

Look at Udon and Nong Khai, we get tons of tourists flowing through here, to cross the border at Nong Khai. Sometimes flying in later in the day, into Udon before arriving in Nong Khai. How do they manage? Basically, it would have to, by definition, include all the border crossing areas. Vientiane is one of the more popular places to get a double entry tourist visa...as well as other types

[slipperylobster]

I would say...the lower end business owners (the ones who just barely make it, such as independant guest houses, small cafe's/bars) are the ones suffering the most. These are the types found, especially, near the border areas, national parks, train stops, etc. Hope they are not left out in the cold.

However, it seems they will be focusing on the Sex Industry (Centered in Pattaya/Phuket). As they thrive during the wee hours of the morning..

Other businesses mostly are closed during curfew hours anyways.

The legacy continues.

Edited May 28, 2014 by slipperylobster

[SABloke]

Acting like a real dictator this Prayuth: Imposes a curfew, listens to local complaints, then lifts curfew.

I miss the democratic PTP: Proposes amnesty bill, locals (PTP constituents) protest, PTP proceeds with enacting new bill...

Edited May 29, 2014 by SABloke

[anon467848]

negative impact on the country’s tourism which contribute up to 10% of GDP.

So the Govt. is finally admitting that the tourism GDP is more than the 6% which is normally brandished about...

[kotsak]

Like Ludacris says.. "..hoes gotta eat too "

[MrWorldwide]

I can still drink in a bar on Soi 8 here in Patts all night long if I so desire - and I mean all night. Seeing the sun come up at that particular bar is a prospect that sends shivers down my spine, but the owner told me he is open 'all day and all night' - dont know what sort of tea money the BiB want for that level of access, but clearly it's there for those who want it badly enough. Chinese Thais know how to make things happen - little wonder they are at the top of the foodchain in this country.