Hopes Dashed for BKK Bars and GoGo’s

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...only-until-9pm

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Bangkok restaurants that want to serve alcohol must have SHA (Safety and Health Administration) certificates and service must end at 9pm, City Hall said on Saturday as it detailed regulations for the lifting of many Covid restrictions starting on Monday.

Many other types of businesses, including gyms and cinemas with certain conditions, will be allowed to resume as the capital prepares to welcome international tourists. However, entertainment venues, pubs, bars and karaoke shops will remain closed.

The communicable disease control committee of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced the new rules a day after the central government designated Bangkok, Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket as tourist-oriented “blue zones” as part of the tourism and economic revival plan.

Disease control officials stressed that businesses allowed to open or conduct some activities must continue to abide strictly by universal Covid prevention guidelines and must have Covid-free settings. The eased restrictions will be in effect from Nov 1-30 but authorities reserve the right to make changes as needed.

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It is almost as if the powers-that-be are sending a message - "We want all you tourists out there to return to Thailand. We just don't want you to enjoy yourselves once you get here."

Other than wearing the masks and using disinfectant, you know how many of all these rules I believe are still necessary? None of them . . .

The sad thing here is that the entertainment businesses have shouldered a huge part of the economic burden that Covid has caused and just how long can these venues survive under these conditions? From what I have read December 1 openings are only spoken of in commentary, I’ve seen nothing that makes this set in stone.

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Originally Posted by Manforallseasons

how long can these venues survive under these conditions?

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We don't even know yet how many have survived. We are now only a few weeks away from the supposed opening date, but I have seen no notifications from any of the bars that they will be reopening. None of the bar boys I know and am in contact with have said they intend to return to the bars. Not one.

There is a big difference between can reopen and will reopen. But bar owners that do intend to reopen would be wise to do a lot more than just unlock the doors and turn on the lights. Unless they are utter idiots, the gay bar owners must realize the best way to let gay customers know their intentions is to make sure the 3 main gay boards know. So far no bar owner has contacted me.

I definitely hope I am wrong, but the closer we're getting to December, the more pessimistic I'm getting.

The advent of the hookup apps killed the gay beach scene. I just hope Covid hasn't killed the go-go bar scene.

These days, bars would probably post on Facebook first, then maybe the forums. I don't like that, but it's how I think it often operates.

Also, the rules for inbound travel on 1 November were only announced in the middle of October. Why would we expect rules on 1 Dec bar opening to be announced over a month in advance ?

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Originally Posted by goji

Why would we expect rules on 1 Dec bar opening to be announced over a month in advance ?

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Does that matter? If their announcements go as usual, then it's virtually a given whatever rules they announce will change, probably several times.

If you spot any bars announcing opening on Facebook or anywhere else, please post the link.

No COCKfighting rings open?

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Originally Posted by dab69

No COCKfighting rings open?

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I haven't quite figured out this one: "Spas and Thai massage shops can open via appointment."

Does that mean you need an appointment to go to a "happy ending" gay massage? Well, not really a problem:

Me: "Hi. I'm here outside of your massage shop to make an appointment."
Massage boy: "What time you like appointment?"
Me: "How about two minutes from now?"

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Originally Posted by goji

Also, the rules for inbound travel on 1 November were only announced in the middle of October. Why would we expect rules on 1 Dec bar opening to be announced over a month in advance ?

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Valid point.

Most people, who know how things work over here, don't expect these types of announcements from the bars until after Dec 1st when the government has made its decision. All these knee-jerk reactions to what's going on right now are just causing people needless frustration and serve no purpose..

Some people seem to think that the bar owners have some sort of crystal ball allowing them to see into the future. Well, they don't. The bar owners are doing exactly the same thing the majority of us are doing, and that's listening to the news every day and reading the morning papers hoping for clues.

I've been in contact with several bar owners/managers/staff over the past 6 months and can tell you that they don't have they foggiest clue what the future holds either. The ones who I've talked to have not vacated their premises and remain hopeful that they can resume business sooner rather than later, but, again, there's no crystal balls out there.

It's very possible (and logical) that the Cabinet Ministers & CCSA are using todays reopening, as well as the designation of 4 blue zones which now allow alcohol to be served under highly controlled conditions, AS A TEST. If the covid cases skyrocket during this test, the chances of the alcohol ban being removed in other areas, and bars being allowed to reopen in the near-future, would probably be slim to none. Conversely, if the reopening is a success, and the number of reported covid cases proves to be controllable, then there's hope.

The bottom-line is that the Cabinet Ministers and CCSA themselves don't have the answers that some people are looking for right now. We are all simply in "unknown territory" and the final decision belongs to "Covid".

As a side note: I personally believe the controls they're putting in place are both necessary and justifiable. The last thing anyone wants is another Virus Super-Spreader throwing the Kingdom into another lockdown and tourism forced to come to a screeching halt before it ever gets a chance to get started again. That wouldn't do any of the businesses any good.

Simplicity is the key to getting through this. Get the population vaccinated and let all fully vaccinated people in. Take the covid hit that will undoubtedly follow nut with very few deaths.

Here. China has closed Shanghai Disneyland, tested people on exit and kept them isolated until the results come through. They may well have to go into lockdown after returning to their home cities. How long can they live this way.

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Originally Posted by Dodger

It's very possible (and logical) that the Cabinet Ministers & CCSA are using todays reopening, as well as the designation of 4 blue zones which now allow alcohol to be served under highly controlled conditions, AS A TEST..

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If that is what is going on, then I have two questions:

1. Why don't they say so? What would be the point of keeping it a secret?

2. Considering the high numbers of people likely to visit Pattaya - sooner or later, why is Pattaya excluded from their test?

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Originally Posted by Gaybutton

If that is what is going on, then I have two questions:

1. Why don't they say so? What would be the point of keeping it a secret?

2. Considering the high numbers of people likely to visit Pattaya - sooner or later, why is Pattaya excluded from their test?

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1.) My nickel (for what it's worth): Too much in-fighting and political maneuvering going on between the Ministries and other interested parties right now. They're probably fearful of even being transparent with each other, let alone have the capacity to be totally open and transparent with the general public. And that's aside from the fact that Thailand's level of competence when dealing with large complex strategies like this leaves a lot to be desired, and that's putting it mildly.

2) I think Pattaya measures too high on the "Risk Scale" right now for them to start serving alcohol - with only 5 hospitals to fend off a possible (or probable) increase in Covid, it looks like they felt Bangkok was lower risk with its 50 hospitals. From a Risk Management perspective, this seems to make sense. The fact that Bangkok has a much larger population than Pattaya could be the reason they're only permitting the more up-scale SHA approved restaurants to serve alcohol, which you wouldn't expect to be located in any large clusters.

For us, this is really no big deal. If they serve alcohol, we can drink if we want to. If they don't, we don't. Not the end of the earth. But, for the bar owners (and other entertainment venues) this is like Apocalypse Now. I don't know how any of them have the patience (or finances) to deal with this. I know if it were me I would have shuttered the doors permanently 20 months ago and called it a day.

For the tourists planning to come here, the effects of these changes (or non-changes) will have the same effect. If the bars are open - they can go. If they're not - they don't go. If they can live with that, it would make sense that they would "Reshape" their holidays, as arsenel so cleverly describes this in another thread, and continue on with their holiday plans. If they can't accept those results, they shouldn't be planning their holiday right now. Ay least that's the way I see it.

Not only Bangkok's bars and discos.
Also the headlines ' restaurants able to sell alcohol' looked a little promising until the small print.
The local policeman in my usual restaurant soi had NO IDEA what SHA certification is when questioned last night.

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Originally Posted by Dodger

From a Risk Management perspective, this seems to make sense.

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I can't believe you said that. Is something wrong with you, thinking the Thai powers-that-be might do anything that even seems to make sense . . . ?

Whatever makes the least sense or, better still, no sense whatsoever - therein lies the most likely answer to why Pattaya has been excluded . . .

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Originally Posted by Patanawet;283893

Not only Bangkok's bars and discos.

Also the headlines ' restaurants able to sell alcohol' looked a little promising until the small print.
The local policeman in my usual restaurant soi had NO IDEA what SHA certification is when questioned last night.

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Your local policeman probably doesn't know what SHA Certification is because the SHA program, at least from what I've been reading, is still a work-in-process and hasn't been fully developed and/or communicated to the broader Bangkok business sector yet. Go figure!

For clarification:

SHA (Safety & Health Administration) is a certificate given by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to hotels and services that meet pandemic-level safety and health standards. These include things like cleaning regularity, placement of sanitizers, table arrangements, adequate signage and several staff procedures. SHA Plus is a certificate awarded to an organization proving that they have approved Covid-19 health and preventative protocols in place and that 70% or more of all employees have been fully vaccinated.

The last information I saw published regarding SHA mentioned that the work that was still in process included establishing the SHA criteria, introducing the committee, preparing the application and selection process, and planning marketing and publicity for the SHA-certified tourism establishments and services.

You can see from the SHA/Bangkok Map linked at the bottom of this post that SHA certificates have already been granted to numerous Bangkok hotels and restaurants, but as far as how many are still in the application phase - that remains to be seen.

How did they screw up by using SHA as a basis for code blue selection? Very easy to explain. They are using a Certification Program which is not fully developed and/or implemented as the basis for code blue selection. Ready - Fire - Aim.

No wonder this was left in small print.

https://www.google.com/search?q=SHA+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

They started SHA registration, then introduced SHA+.

I guess hotels rushed to join up to be ready for 7-day sandbox programmes. However, by the time a sandbox scheme has been introduced in Pattaya and Babgkok, people from over 60 countries are also entitled to one night quarantine.
So sandbox demand will be low.

Meanwhile, in the case of Bangkok, visitors can already book their one night stay in an ASQ hotel on Agoda. Easy and with refund rights. Since we are confined to the room (ie Quarantined), one night in ASQ is the same as one night in SHA+.

I hope the hotels didn't pay too much to register for the daft SHA+ scheme, as I wouldn't count on it generating much business.

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Originally Posted by arsenal

China has closed Shanghai Disneyland, tested people on exit and kept them isolated until the results come through. They may well have to go into lockdown after returning to their home cities. .

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So the results are in re that ( quite literally in this case) and the final total was ZERO persons tested positive in the whole of the park ( if their numbers are to be believed). It certianly seems that the Chinese take their testing and enforcment to a whole other level and way more seriously than the rest of the world that's for sure.

The one notable thing perhaps being that it wasn't that visitors were just tested "on leaving" but the fact that visiitors weren't ALLOWED TO LEAVE the park and in fact were kept there for several hours just SO that they could be tested before then being allowed to leave for home !

Meanwhile here in the UK we have nightclubs re opened, people with no requirement to wear masks and testing not being mandatory to gain access to anywhere for fear we offend someones civil liberties" - oh and our covid numnber rising daily to match of course - go figure eh !

Here's the BBC link to that story....
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-59119621

I don’t believe the numbers I know 3 people here that have had or have Covid.

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Originally Posted by Manforallseasons

I don’t believe the numbers I know 3 people here that have had or have Covid.

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Had they been to Shanghai Disneyland?

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Originally Posted by Brad the Impala

Had they been to Shanghai Disneyland?

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Not unless it was moved to Pattaya.

Anyone make it to Balcony restaurant last night for their short opening ?


What -are they closing at 9:00 pm?

Later I see under Silom Soi 4 News thread -Panawets post reporting on Balcony restaurants opening.

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Originally Posted by arsenal

How long can they live this way.

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Until after the Olympics?

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Originally Posted by Manforallseasons

I don’t believe the numbers I know 3 people here that have had or have Covid.

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Well that's 2 more than I know. And the one I know is one of your 3.

Not so long ago, projected numbers for tourists were utterly pie in the sky - they seemed to think we'd all queue up to jump through endless hoops to visit a country where we'd have to be locked in a hotel room for a fortnight only to find the bars were closed when we were let out.

Now they are really opening up again, yet on the Thaiger a TAT official was quoted expecting a million tourists over the next year..

..a million? - just one in thirty compared to 2019? If they are planning for those numbers at the airport, the facilities will probably be swamped..

I can't help feeling that the Thai government has absolutely no understanding of its foreign tourist industry..

SILOM SOI 4 RE-OPEN - sort of. Monday 1st of November.
The bars/restaurants in the soi were told at about 4 o/clock that they could sell alcohol till 9.
The soi was surprisingly busy and bright after a typical, end of rainy season, monsoon.
Connections, Pride and Balcony open.
All 3 restaurants had many customers.
Telephone not open. (Rumours abound).

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention the new restaurant/bar on the corner of Silom owned by two 'ladies'.
It was formerly 'Eat Man- Eat Woman".
I'm told that in addition to the ground floor there will be a Korean restaurant above and eventually a cabaret bar above that.
Balcony was particularly busy because they held their quiz night.
I counted about six teams of 4+ . More, I think, than a normal quiz night. Lots of voucher prizes but the jackpot not won and rolls over. And a free Balcony Members' dinner on Wednesday.
I left about 9:15 and there were still plenty of people hanging around.

Let's hope that in 4 weeks time, everything will be open including Jupiter, Strangers and Tapas/Welcome.

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Originally Posted by Patanawet

And a free Balcony Members' dinner on Wednesday.

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What is the Balcony member program? I can only find a "mailing list" on their website.

Last time I saw was 500 Baht lifetime membership.
Usually sold at the bar but I would have thought also online (not Sure).
Drop them a line.
New email address TheBalconySoi4@outlook.com