Thailand permits evening golf equipment, karaoke bars to remain open for 2 further hours in standard vacationer locations

Thailand’s cupboard has permitted a ministerial regulation that extends the opening hours of evening golf equipment and leisure venues in a bid to attract in additional vacationers, a authorities spokesperson mentioned on Tuesday.

Leisure venues, golf equipment and karaoke bars in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattya, Chiang Mai and Samui, standard vacationer locations, shall be allowed keep open two further hours till 4 AM, Traisulee Traisaranakul mentioned.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had beforehand mentioned the brand new guidelines would begin on December 15.

The tourism business is a key driver of the economic system, which has seen sluggish development in contrast with regional friends, and which Srettha’s authorities is eager to revive with stimulus measures.

The choice to permit leisure venues to remain open longer is the most recent step taken by the federal government to spice up overseas arrivals after the federal government in September waived visa necessities for Chinese language guests, a key supply of vacationers for Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economic system.

Thailand has to date welcomed 24.5 million overseas vacationers this yr and is forecasting 28 million arrivals for the total yr.

Earlier than the pandemic, Thailand booked a file 39.9 million arrivals, with 11 million from China. This yr, the federal government expects simply 3.5 million arrivals from China.