18 Jun, 2021
Bar beer operators in Pattaya are urging the Thai government to open the country for foreign tourists as they are really suffering from economic crisis, according to their statements to associated press this week.
The Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that Thailand will open the country within 120 days earlier this week, drawing praise from the tourism and entertainment sector but stark warnings from prominent Thai doctors.
Ms. Maruree Kunlabut, 44, a bar beer operator told associated Thai press, “We don’t have any income but we still have expenses as the government has not provided significant financial aid for sectors they have shuttered. We need foreign tourists to help us. However, I have not received the vaccine yet. We need more vaccines as well for the Pattaya area. ”
Ms. Ple, who gave only her nickname, another bar beer operator told associated Thai press, “It is good if the country is to be opened widely for foreign tourists in October. Thais will have more income as the economy will improve. Bar beer operators are now suffering. However, we are still worrying if the vaccines in Thailand are really effective. For that matter, we worry about if vaccines around the world will truly help improve the situation and let us return to normal and run our business while welcoming back tourists without quarantine and many steps to take to enter.”
Mr. Chatchai Sakasakun, another Pattaya bar beer operator told the press, “This third round of the Covid – 19 pandemic is worse as my bar has been closed since the second round in January. I pay for rent at about a hundred thousand baht a month and the government has not provided rent support despite repeated requests from the entertainment sector. We need to open as soon as possible.”
TPN media notes that all bars in Pattaya have been closed since April 10th, but cases of Covid-19 have stayed stubbornly high, primarily driven by markets, factories, construction sites, and migrant worker communities. As the closures stretch on with no end in sight and with limited to no financial aid Pattaya business owners are asking for the opportunity to open domestically as well, with strict rules and health measures, bringing up the fact that in their opinion they would be less risky and have less people than crowded markets and massive industrial estates with thousands of migrant workers.
