Govt sobers up

Relief for business, tourists

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In Bangkok's nightlife districts, the initial regulations landed like a hammer. Operators complained of sudden cancellations, confused tourists, and inconsistent on-ground enforcement.

Nowhere was this more visible than in Khao San Road, a magnet for foreign backpackers and a nightlife economy heavily dependent on European tourists.

Sanga Ruengwattanakul, president of the Khao San Business Association, thanked the government for reversing what he called an outdated and economically damaging restriction.

“The 2pm-5pm ban dated back to 1972 and no longer reflected economic realities,’ he said, pointing out that tourists on holiday do not follow the same time-bound consumption patterns as office workers.

While operators along Khao San Road were less affected, given its 80% European tourist base, Mr Sanga said tourism areas reliant on Chinese tourists, such as Yaowarat and Banthat Thong, had suffered sharply.

Operators had long complained that restrictive rules push businesses toward informal or underground operations.

Mr Sanga added that many restaurants have attempted to register as entertainment venues but faced cumbersome approval processes, forcing some to operate in legal grey zones. “If rules are too strict, businesses will simply find ways to avoid them,’ he warned.

Other business owners and communities echoed similar views. Some argued for targeted zoning to keep nightlife visible but controlled. Others pressed the government to bring underground venues “to the surface,’ allowing them to operate legally and transparently while removing incentives for bribery or informal payments to local officials.

For many in the service sector, the six-month trial is viewed as a window of opportunity: a chance to generate more revenue in a sluggish economy, create jobs and stabilise tourism sentiment ahead of the tourism high season.

Sounding the alarm