Khao San nightlife operators fear new rules will kill buzz
Operators of pubs and bars in Bangkok’s Khao San area say it will be difficult to follow the rules imposed by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) when they reopen in the next few weeks.
Venues and bars in the tourist hotspot are preparing to resume business after four months in lockdown.
A staff member at one Khao San venue revealed that the owner is now waiting anxiously to hear how the new rules will change operations. The pool table will have to be removed in line with one of the 22 requirements, while the number of tables for customers must be reduced to meet the social distancing rule.
Fifty per cent of the area is covered by entertainment businesses, pubs and bars, according to Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Business Association. He believes that entertainment operators will find it difficult to comply with about 20 per cent of the new rules, especially the limit of five people per table, since they will not know how many tourists will come at the same time. The rule against singing, shouting and dancing will also be hard to impose as people visit Khao San at night to relax, he added.
As for the requirement that drinks be sold in glasses, not bottles, he said most visitors like to buy bottled drinks and usually don’t share them with others.
Meanwhile, shops and venues in the area are cleaning up and checking their sound equipment ahead of the scheduled reopening in July.