FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Tourism minister wants to extend pub closing hours

Tourism minister wants to extend pub closing hours

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has proposed that bars and pubs in some tourist destinations be allowed to stay open until 4am to attract foreign tourists to spend more.

Phiphat said he would discuss his ideas to stimulate nightlife tourism with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and other ministers. 
The closing time for pubs and bars is 2am.
Phiphat said he believed that if closing is extended to 4 am, tourists will spend 25 per cent more on eating and drinking.
He added however that the proposal did not apply to all areas but would cover such popular tourist spots as the Silom nightlife zone in Bangkok, Patong in Phuket, Ao Nang in Krabi and Koh Samui in Surat Thani. 
Meanwhile, Witchayayut Boonchit, deputy secretary general of the National Economic and Social Development Board, said the number of Chinese tourists dropped by 8 per cent in the second quarter, following on from the 1.7 per cent fall in arrivals in the first quarter.
He said Chinese tourists were apparently worried by the depreciation of the yuan so were visiting Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and South Korea instead of travelling to Thailand.
He said 19.76 million foreign tourists visited Thailand during the first half (January to June) this year, which was an increase of 1.48 per cent over the previous year. They generated revenue of Bt1.02 trillion for the country.

RELATED
nationthailand