Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Friday, November 3rd, that the Thai government will first allow bars and nightclubs in four provinces—Chonburi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok—to remain open until 4 AM.
The information was made public following a meeting yesterday between PM Srettha, the governors of the four provinces stated above, and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to explore extending overnight service hours until four in the morning.
Srettha reported that a unanimous resolution was made during the conference to extend the working hours in four pilot provinces—Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Chonburi—all of which are popular tourist attractions.
As an economic boost, this extension will allow nighttime services to run until 4:00 AM, beginning on December 15, 2023. The Prime Minister did stress that it will be used initially as a “temporary measure” to weigh its benefits and drawbacks. He said, “A detailed investigation will be carried out later for considerations in the future.”
Srettha clarified that the expansion will explicitly target select places, such as the authorized entertainment zones, in answer to questions about whether it will encompass the entire province or just certain areas. He stated that by December 15th, the Ministry of Interior will make public the identified zones that will receive this prolongation.
Srettha continued, saying that the extension was meant to encourage foreign visitors—who often don’t eat out until 9 or 10 PM—to spend more money on dining out rather than to explicitly promote alcohol consumption.
Srettha reassured that the Royal Thai Police is equipped to handle worries on the surge in accidents, drug usage, or societal issues. There will be more CCTV installations and venue checks, among other measures.
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