Hopes Dashed for BKK Bars and GoGo’s

[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 . . .