Vendors Protest Traffic Plan

[Jai Dee]

ROYAL FLORA RATCHAPHRUEK 2006

Vendors protest traffic plan

Visitors being dropped off inside expo venue, leaving hundreds of stall owners along access road fuming

The main gate to Royal Flora Ratchaphruek was blocked for three hours yesterday by some 400 food and souvenir vendors protesting against "unfair" traffic rules that robbed them of customers.

"We host the world-class event, but we can't benefit from it," an angry food hawker said.

The locals had secured spots along Ratchaphruek Road leading to the expo site to cater to passers-by but complained that vehicles were not allowed to drop off visitors on the way. They slammed the event organiser for ignoring them while letting outsiders snap up food and souvenirs concessions on the expo grounds.

"We want a clear answer on how the organiser will help us. We spent a lot on rent, but can't make any money," Sakda Phreuksapan said.

He said he already paid Bt60,000 for three months' rent on a small roadside booth but sold only seven glasses of herbal drink yesterday.

One food vendor gave her wares away at the gathering.

Some traders asked for the 700-metre-long Ratchaphruek Road to be closed off to traffic from 3pm-10pm and turned into a walking street where they could market their wares. Others said they want the road to remain open but police must allow cars to stop along the road or at the private parking lots along the road.

The demonstrators dispersed after a deputy governor and the deputy provincial police commander promised to take them today to meet the governor, the director-general of the Agriculture Department, and Reed Tradex, the organiser. However, the protesters were asked to come to an agreement on their demands.

To prevent traffic jams and provide a convenient means of transport, the organiser prohibited non-official vehicles from entering the site and arranged for shuttle buses to pick up visitors and take them directly into the venue. While the traffic system was appreciated by tourists, it left the merchants outside the fairgrounds fuming.

The protestors said about 10,000 small shops had set up along Ratchaphruek Road. And they already paid high rent to the landowners because they expected that they could generate income from the international horticultural exposition. The rent ranged from Bt40,000-Bt120,000 for three months, depending on the size and location of the booth. They claimed the organisers had promised that Ratchaphruek Road would be crowded during the three months of the expo, as the road would be closed.

Preecha Sananvattananant, Reed Tradex's chief officer and project manager for event operations, activities and communications, said he was ready to follow the new traffic system arranged by police, as his company's responsibility was for only inside the expo.

"There are many ways to manage [the traffic system]. Police have to consider whether they want to keep the existing one that is comfortable for visitors," he said.

Source: The Nation - 3 November 2006

[Gonzo the Face]

ROYAL FLORA RATCHAPHRUEK 2006

Vendors protest traffic plan

Visitors being dropped off inside expo venue, leaving hundreds of stall owners along access road fuming

The main gate to Royal Flora Ratchaphruek was blocked for three hours yesterday by some 400 food and souvenir vendors protesting against "unfair" traffic rules that robbed them of customers.

"We host the world-class event, but we can't benefit from it," an angry food hawker said.

The locals had secured spots along Ratchaphruek Road leading to the expo site to cater to passers-by but complained that vehicles were not allowed to drop off visitors on the way. They slammed the event organiser for ignoring them while letting outsiders snap up food and souvenirs concessions on the expo grounds.

"We want a clear answer on how the organiser will help us. We spent a lot on rent, but can't make any money," Sakda Phreuksapan said.

He said he already paid Bt60,000 for three months' rent on a small roadside booth but sold only seven glasses of herbal drink yesterday.

One food vendor gave her wares away at the gathering.

Some traders asked for the 700-metre-long Ratchaphruek Road to be closed off to traffic from 3pm-10pm and turned into a walking street where they could market their wares. Others said they want the road to remain open but police must allow cars to stop along the road or at the private parking lots along the road.

The demonstrators dispersed after a deputy governor and the deputy provincial police commander promised to take them today to meet the governor, the director-general of the Agriculture Department, and Reed Tradex, the organiser. However, the protesters were asked to come to an agreement on their demands.

To prevent traffic jams and provide a convenient means of transport, the organiser prohibited non-official vehicles from entering the site and arranged for shuttle buses to pick up visitors and take them directly into the venue. While the traffic system was appreciated by tourists, it left the merchants outside the fairgrounds fuming.

The protestors said about 10,000 small shops had set up along Ratchaphruek Road. And they already paid high rent to the landowners because they expected that they could generate income from the international horticultural exposition. The rent ranged from Bt40,000-Bt120,000 for three months, depending on the size and location of the booth. They claimed the organisers had promised that Ratchaphruek Road would be crowded during the three months of the expo, as the road would be closed.

Preecha Sananvattananant, Reed Tradex's chief officer and project manager for event operations, activities and communications, said he was ready to follow the new traffic system arranged by police, as his company's responsibility was for only inside the expo.

"There are many ways to manage [the traffic system]. Police have to consider whether they want to keep the existing one that is comfortable for visitors," he said.

Source: The Nation - 3 November 2006

I would say this is the product of non analytical thinking. This program, as well as other areas that require a thinking through, such as the new Bkk Airport, are never really broken down and thought through. Then the problems happen rather than pre planning to eliminate the problem areas.

This lateral type of thinking trait is never taught in Thailand. It is just not part of the Thai Psyche..

[Tywais]

I talked to a friend of mine at the university. He said the problem was the owner of the land decided to build huts and rent them out without checking with the organizers. There was already plans to hold the merchants offering sales inside and should have made arrangements to do the same. Since the cars cannot stop/park on the entrance the vendors get no sales. Basically the land owner is trying to profiteer without legal authority. Guess he didn't read the contracts.

[Cyberstar]

If that's the case - not much chance of a refund. It's not the landlords job to secure the avaiability of customers before renting out his stalls. Hopefully, not too many of these vendors invested more in Thailand, than they can afford to walk away from.

[Ajarn]

I think that most of these guys could be called the 'Thai Social Security System', in my opinion. With basically nothing to offer folks in terms of welfare, they tend to make it easy for all of these guys to open up on some sidewalk, until the sidewalk is full.

We've all seen this, I'm sure. It's tough doing business here...