PHUKET: The Sports and Tourism Ministry will soon propose that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) ease opening restrictions on night entertainment venues to increase earnings and attract tourists.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told reporters in Phuket on Friday that the ministry had recently conducted a survey with Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Phuket Rajabhat University and the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) to gauge the upside of allowing night entertainment venues on Koh Samui of Surat Thani, Phangnga and Khao San Road in Bangkok to stay open later.
"The results suggested that tourists spend the most amount of money between 1-3am. After 3am they tend to spend less. This corresponds with our call for a 4am closing time," Mr Phiphat said.
Mr Phiphat said that he had surveyed night entertainment venues on Thursday on Bangla Road near Patong Beach in Phuket and most of those asked said that they wanted pubs and nightclubs to open after 2am.
"More than 70% of participants wanted the venues to stay open as they felt that at the moment their evenings were ending while they were still having fun," said Mr Phiphat.
Officials will gather local opinions and further discussion will be had with the CCSA if the community does not support the plan, he said.
He added that he will visit Walking Street in Pattaya at the end of this month to conduct another survey.
"The survey results will be proposed to the government ahead of a discussion on the new ministerial regulations to be issued by the Public Health Ministry and Ministry of Interiors. We might be able to provide a specific curfew-free zone that allows venues to open until 4am. It is estimated that the move could increase turnover among operators by 23-24%," said Mr Phiphat.
