Four provinces to pilot 4am closure for entertainment venues
Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket and Chiang Mai will pilot the government’s measure to allow entertainment venues, such as pubs, bars, restaurants, and karaoke joints, to stay open until 4am in a bid to boost tourism and domestic spending.
The pilot phase is expected to start on December 15 in these four tourist cities in the Central, East, South and Northern regions, respectively.
The decision was made during a meeting at Government House on Friday, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Joining the session were Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, governors of the four provinces, and representatives from the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and related agencies.
Srettha said the measure would be implemented in these provinces temporarily.
The PM also tasked the Interior Ministry with determining the appropriate duration of the pilot phase, as well as the zoning in each province to implement the 4am closing time.
Night venues in Thailand are currently allowed to stay open until 1am or 2am, depending on the location.
“Studies have shown that this measure would help boost tourism revenue,” said Srettha. “These establishments often see clients coming in for drinks and foods as late as 9pm-10pm. To ease public concerns, the authority will also increase monitoring of illegal drugs in the entertainment venues.”
The Cabinet in September had approved the move to extend the opening hours of entertainment venues, ideally before the high tourism season, to attract domestic and foreign visitors.
The Cabinet also appointed the Interior Ministry as a central agency for the move, and tasked it with coordinating with the Finance, Transport, Public Health, Labour, Social Development and Human Security ministries, as well as related agencies in piloting the project as soon as possible.
