Hopes Dashed for BKK Bars and GoGo’s

[Gaybutton]

how long can these venues survive under these conditions?

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.

[goji]

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 ?

[Gaybutton]

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

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.

[Dodger]

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 ?

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.

[Gaybutton]

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 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?

[Dodger]

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?

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.

[Gaybutton]

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

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 . . .