Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

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Gaybutton
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

Post by Gaybutton »

gera wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:53 pm It is very easy to explain. Thailand is preparing for opening up for foreign tourists and epidemiological situation can change.
I disagree. If that is the reason, then why were the rules for virtually everything else besides the bars relaxed? That doesn't make sense to me.

Also, Thailand clearly has no intention of letting in foreign tourists from countries still seriously plagued by the virus. They won't be coming in to Thailand until the crisis is solved and Thailand doesn't think they will be letting in planeloads of potential virus carriers.

They are even seriously discussing extending the emergency decree by another month. The predictions on the news media are all saying that is exactly what Thailand will probably do.

Some seem to think money is going to take precedence over health risk. From where I sit, I don't think that will happen. While so many are out of work and now destitute, Thailand shows no indication that trying to solve the plight of those people will be done by letting in droves of tourists. It seems to me it all boils down to two choices - money first or health first. So far Thailand's choice seems to be health first.
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

Post by gerefan »

Gaybutton wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:38 pm. It seems to me it all boils down to two choices - money first or health first. So far Thailand's choice seems to be health first.
A few quotes for you!

When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is.

Money is the root of all evil..and the lack of it.

Money doesn’t bring happiness...but it takes away a lot of unhappiness.

It’s only a matter of time before money talks again...especially in Thailand!
gera

Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

Post by gera »

Gaybutton wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:38 pm Also, Thailand clearly has no intention of letting in foreign tourists from countries still seriously plagued by the virus. They won't be coming in to Thailand until the crisis is solved and Thailand doesn't think they will be letting in planeloads of potential virus carriers.

They are even seriously discussing extending the emergency decree by another month. The predictions on the news media are all saying that is exactly what Thailand will probably do.

Some seem to think money is going to take precedence over health risk. From where I sit, I don't think that will happen. While so many are out of work and now destitute, Thailand shows no indication that trying to solve the plight of those people will be done by letting in droves of tourists. It seems to me it all boils down to two choices - money first or health first. So far Thailand's choice seems to be health first.
Emergency decree will be extended but it has nothing to do with the admission of foreigners. In fact , first group of foreigners (including some categories of tourists) will be admitted starting July 1. And some of jurisdictions involved (e.g. Japan) are far from being virus free. Bars, boxing stadiums, karaoke are definitely the riskiest venues in terms of virus transmission and the imposition of serious constraints on them is warranted. The economic situation in Thailand is dire and I am sure Chinese tourists will be allowed in pretty soon and without substantial restrictions.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/303 ... l_referral
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

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Money ain't everything, but it's way ahead of whatever's in second place!
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

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gera wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:51 am I am sure Chinese tourists will be allowed in pretty soon and without substantial restrictions.
I will have no complaints if you're wrong about that . . .
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

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Today, July 1, is the day the bars can finally reopen. Now we'll need to see how many gay bars and go-go bars do reopen, how many boys there will be, and whether there are enough customers to support them.

I am guessing that many will remain closed until farang tourists can start coming back and boys can start coming back. Maybe there are enough local customers to support the bars, but I doubt there are enough to support all of them, at least in Pattaya. Bangkok may be a different story.

Anyone who goes to the bars, no matter where in Thailand, please let us know how the situation looks.
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

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I'm wondering how the first opening night went. I wasn't anywhere near any bars, so I did not see for myself.

And the weather isn't cooperating. It is a rainy night in Pattaya.
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Re: Pattaya's entertainment venue crisis

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Pattaya businesses are now in survival mode for the rest of 2020

By Barry Kenyon

July 13, 2020

Pattaya may not have been the city built on rock and roll, but it was certainly created to cope with huge numbers. Perhaps 15 million foreign visitors in 2019. But the pesky virus has abruptly ended that scenario with the Tourism Council of Thailand now predicting that one third of tourist-orientated business may be permanently shuttered.

The evidence is easy to find. Pattaya’s 100 or so Indian restaurants of yesteryear have shrunk to less than half that number. Major entertainment centres catering for hundreds of eager beavers at one sitting, such as glitzy cabaret shows and dance clubs, remain firmly padlocked. The 200 or so massage parlours did mostly reopen, but are facing the reality that there are too many hot towels and not enough cool customers.

So the key to survival is to appeal to the markets which are still here. It is no surprise that the government is seeking to boost the Thai domestic market. In Pattaya there are shopping discounts galore and huge savings to be made on hotel accommodation. Thais are currently reluctant to travel abroad for obvious reasons. They will likely face 14-days quarantine at both ends and will need a host of documents for the return journey. Thailand’s domestic travel market is not small potatoes and is in the region of one trillion baht of spending annually. At weekends in particular, cash registers are ringing happily in some retail outlets and restaurants.

But the foreign market is in the doldrums. It used to be worth over two trillion baht annually. With the Thai authorities now even delaying travel bubbles because of fears of importing the virus and a poll showing most Thais don’t even want medical tourists, let alone general tourists, access to the Land of Smiles is set to be very bleak. Permission to enter the country has to be granted by the Thai embassy in the country of intended departure. The hurdles are gigantic.

Nearly all the foreigners now resident in the greater Pattaya area have been here for at least four months and likely longer. They include relatively small numbers of permanent residents (those possessing a police red book), work permit holders, husbands with Thai families and wannabe students, retirees with one year extensions of stay and a small number of Elite visa holders. The local total may be in the region of 10,000 people.

A much larger number of foreigners in Pattaya are those from neighboring countries, mostly guest workers on less-than-generous wages from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos who may number 20,000 under the partnership agreement between governments known as the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). The number was formerly much larger, but the slowdown in the construction industry since the pandemic’s arrival encouraged many to return whilst the borders were still open. There are also an unknown number of illegal immigrants living in Pattaya’s twilight zone. The young Cambodian guy serving customers in a bar or offering a foot massage might not have the correct paperwork.

Chairat Trittanajarasporn, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, explains that “the playground is clean but there’s a big fence around it,” meaning that whilst the country is technically open for business, the fear of introducing coronavirus means most foreigners are barred from entry.

Meanwhile, Pattaya’s expat retirees never had it so good. Trapped like birds in a gilded cage – if they leave Thailand they won’t be able to get back – they are enjoying the special attention and the generous discounts which await them in many bars, restaurants and massage shops. 74 year old John Liebermann confided, “For the first time in Pattaya, I actually feel wanted. Trouble is I’m too old to enjoy it.”

https://www.pattayamail.com/business/pa ... 020-307279
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