PHUKET: A plan to extend the opening hours of bars and nightclubs to 4am quickly won the support of the Entertainment Association of Patong today.
The suggestion comes from the Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, General Adol Narongsak.
He told the Thai media in Bangkok that zoning of entertainment areas, extending hours to 4am and ensuring ''white zones'' were free from drugs and weapons would be positive steps.
The President of the Entertainment Association of Patong, Weerawit Kuresombat, welcomed the idea today and said later closing hours would mean more money for the government in taxes as well.
''It would be better to pay taxes on extra income than the under the table payments we currently have to make to stay open late,'' he said.
How much money was paid under the table? ''A lot,'' he said.
The difficulty in making the business pay had been a problem for the past decade on Phuket, he said.
''Ever since closing time changed from 3am to 1am, it has been more difficult to make money,'' Khun Weerawit added.
He said opening until later made sense and would bring the industry in line with the habits of many tourists.
''Many of them go to the beach or on excursions during the day,'' he said. ''Then they take a nap, get up around 10pm and go out to eat.
''For many, a visit to a nightspot only begins at midnight. At present that leaves just an hour for people to make money.
''If businesses stayed open until 3am or 4am, there would be more happier tourists and more income for the government.''
At present, he said, many tourists bought alcohol at convenience stores once nightclubs closed and continued drinking at the beaches, creating garbage problems and a kless safe environment for everybody.
Extending Thailand's entertainment hours will be discussed again later this week.
There are about 200 bars and nightspots in central Patong and another 100 on the outskirts.
The suggestion comes from the Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, General Adol Narongsak.
He told the Thai media in Bangkok that zoning of entertainment areas, extending hours to 4am and ensuring ''white zones'' were free from drugs and weapons would be positive steps.
The President of the Entertainment Association of Patong, Weerawit Kuresombat, welcomed the idea today and said later closing hours would mean more money for the government in taxes as well.
''It would be better to pay taxes on extra income than the under the table payments we currently have to make to stay open late,'' he said.
How much money was paid under the table? ''A lot,'' he said.
The difficulty in making the business pay had been a problem for the past decade on Phuket, he said.
''Ever since closing time changed from 3am to 1am, it has been more difficult to make money,'' Khun Weerawit added.
He said opening until later made sense and would bring the industry in line with the habits of many tourists.
''Many of them go to the beach or on excursions during the day,'' he said. ''Then they take a nap, get up around 10pm and go out to eat.
''For many, a visit to a nightspot only begins at midnight. At present that leaves just an hour for people to make money.
''If businesses stayed open until 3am or 4am, there would be more happier tourists and more income for the government.''
At present, he said, many tourists bought alcohol at convenience stores once nightclubs closed and continued drinking at the beaches, creating garbage problems and a kless safe environment for everybody.
Extending Thailand's entertainment hours will be discussed again later this week.
There are about 200 bars and nightspots in central Patong and another 100 on the outskirts.
1 AM, 2 AM absolutely to early for Soi Bangla and surroundings! 4 AM, some Discos - 6 AM more acceptable and fitting opening times in a Party town same Patong.
Everything else is a Farce!
Posted by Alfred on April 8, 2013 16:54