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Pattaya To Reopen in October Minus Its Famous Nightlife

Despite a proposal to reopen Pattaya, based on Phuket’s sandbox scheme, Chonburi province officials have not pledged to revive its nightlife industry.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Chonburi leaders plan to present a proposal to disease control agencies in Bangkok this weekend, expecting to implement a non-quarantine program for foreign tourists in October.

If approved, Pattaya could open for the first time since the pandemic started in early March 2020, allowing foreign vaccinated travelers to visit the city without a strict 14-day quarantine.

However, Pattaya’s world-famous bar and entertainment industry might not reopen as expected.

Phuket reopened to foreign visitors on July 1 this year. But its nightlife industry has remained closed even though foreign tourists and most of the island’s residents have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

The nightlife sector in Chonburi and other provinces has asked the government for authorization to reopen with restaurant-like restrictions in order to stay afloat after spending at least five consecutive months closed.

But the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has taken strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including bars and entertainment venues’ closure and a ban on alcohol selling at restaurants and other establishments.

Disease control laws differ in each province due to government-imposed color-based zoning, but Pattaya, considered Thailand’s epicenter of nightlife and bars, has seen harsh restrictions. The CCSA has been extremely cautious on any alcohol-related issue, arguing that alcohol-related meetings or events are the highest-risk activities for spreading Covid-19.

To date, the CCSA has not developed any plan to reopen bars, concerts, or nightspots anytime soon.

However, Takhian Tia Mayor, Banglamung leaders and other Chonburi officials want to shift the focus away from nightlife, showing tourists plenty of other activities to do while on vacation in the province.

Chonburi leaders plan to promote cultural and natural attractions in Pattaya for potential vaccinated tourists, including Koh Larn and other islands, beaches, water activities such as swimming and diving, golf courses, tourist attractions such as Nong Nooch Gardens or the Sanctuary of Truth, and animal attractions.

They also plan to promote local resorts, shopping centers like Terminal 21 and Central Festival, natural attractions like the Big Buddha or the Buddha Mountain, hundreds of restaurants, and local temples like Wat Yansangwararam.

Takhian Tia also hopes to attract international tourists to historical and cultural attractions.