Closing times for nightspots remain in place, for the moment

Provincial CEO to decide operating hours for zoning

Veerachai Somchart

Nightspots in Pattaya have received a reprieve on operating hours after business operators in Pattaya, and around the country, called for changes to the implementation of the entertainment law amendments that were due to be enforced on March 1.

In particular, Pattaya bar owners sent notices of petition on the new laws to local and provincial government offices as well as the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The result? Venues will be permitted to continue business as usual, closing at 2 a.m. pending further announcements by the government.

Adding power to the punch, the parliamentary committee for tourism called for a delay in enforcing the laws until the amendments had passed through parliament approval, allowing provincial CEO’s to decide what was appropriate for areas under their control.

Samphan Cholharn, president of the Pattaya Bar Owners Association commented on the issue by saying that bar owners in the city have been vigilant since the policy announcement.

“We have sent our petition opposing these laws to all relevant government departments, including the Minister of Tourism and Sports, but received no response. On February 26 we met with these people regarding the issue, stating firmly that it will not only affect tourism but also create financial hardship for business owners and those who would otherwise be unemployed if they (the government) are to enforce these rules from the first of the month,” said Samphan.

In the latest developments, the parliamentary committee on tourism called a meeting with government officials and business operators, including those in Pattaya, to listen to their views on operating hours and implementation of the new policies.

Committee members said that they would request that the MOI hold off imposing the laws until the final draft was made and allow businesses to operate as normal, giving the authority to the provincial CEO to decide the operating hours inside their jurisdiction after consulting with local administrators, residents and the business sector. CEOs will also be given the task of un-confusing the confusion associated with zoning.

As it currently stands, entertainment venues outside the specified zone will be permitted to operate till 2 a.m.

Business owners cited Malaysia and Singapore as being able to open until 4 or 5 a.m., and pointed out that these two countries have far less crime compared to Thailand. Operators presented their case to the MOI for further consideration, calling for leniency on their opening and closing times, and vowed to heed the current iron clad laws on preventing illegal weapons, drugs or patrons under 20 inside the premises.

The national senate also met on the same day concerning the issue, calling for opinions on the matter and suggested that business owners request further time and consideration before the entertainment act is imposed, specifically in connection where timing is concerned, adding that they would be cutting their own throats in the tourism industry, a prime target of development for the government sector.

Further letters and recommendations were presented to Senator Dr. Prasit Pitwokitja from Nakorn Sawan, as head of the committee handling complaints on such issues for additional consideration.

Vichien Chawalit, director of the investigation and legislative office added, “The focus of the new MOI legislation is the opening and closing times for entertainment venues as suggested by Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsomboom. Ideally they would have venues outside the zone closing at midnight regardless, and those businesses inside the entertainment zone would be able to close at either 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. depending on their classification. For example, venues offering dancing would be able to close at 2 a.m. while others presenting live music and food would close at 1 a.m. These are more in line with the cabinet’s ideas. As for those people sending their comments to the MOI, we will accept them and keep them for further consideration. The Prime Minister has requested the ministry not create unnecessary hardship as result of the changes and as a result they have been postponed.”

Suchada Tupchai

The continuing battle of the bus service versus the songtaew cooperative took a turn last week when, at yet another city hall meeting, city officials announced that Pattaya residents will decide the fate of public transport in ‘Fun City’.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Sittiparp Muangkham, Pattaya’s engineering chief, met with research officers and the belligerent Songtaew Cooperative to come to some agreement on the issue.

Following the last meeting in which a compromise was reached to reduce the study period from 6 to 3 months and allow the buses to run from 6 a.m. till midnight at 20-minute intervals throughout the day, and changing to 30 minute intervals in the evening, problems caused by songtaew drivers have remained constant.

“A decision was reached at the last meeting between the city, the research department and the Songtaew Cooperative, but there are continuing reports of songtaew drivers harassing and threatening the buses. Disruptive actions include parking in the bus lane and intentionally stalling service by driving slowly as well as other devious tricks. This needless mischief is affecting the quality of the service and inconveniencing the public,” complained one representative of the King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Thonburi’s Traffic Research and Development Department.

Sittiparb Munagkam commented that he was aware of the problems being caused, hence the need to solve these issues created by unhappy songtaew drivers. “The Songtaew Co-op should be more open to change, since the research period is not forever but only for the specified period and for the long term benefit of the city. Researchers are trying to solve Pattaya’s traffic problems and they have already made note of the Songtaew Co-op in their earlier recommendations. To be fair, we need to know what residents and tourists want and need in terms of future public transport,” he said.

“There are 700 songtaews in Pattaya providing service throughout the city, but there are some routes that do not have public transport, such as Pattaya Third Road, etc. In the future the Songtaew Co-op will have to change their thinking and their routes and allow residents and tourists to decide what is best for them, whether it is the songtaew, metered taxis or bus service or a combination of all,” said Sittiparb.

Bunjerd Kaewthongdee, chairman of the Songtaew Co-operative added that, following the last meeting, he had informed all drivers of the changes in the traffic study and that it was for the benefit of the whole city and not meant to create hardship for them.

“I do, however, foresee that some residents will remain confused as to the changes in the system at present as well as service schedules. Many of them think that the buses run every half hour and it will create more confusion if the timetable is changed,” said Bunjerd.

“I don’t think there will be any further problems if there is a strong effort to thoroughly inform the public about the changeover from the bus service to the songtaew in the second three-month period,” added Bunjerd.

After further discussion a decision was reached that after the research period was complete - the public - those who have the most to gain or lose, will be able to decide what they want. A call center will be open to report bad behavior from either the free bus service or the songtaew drivers. The Research Center number is 038-427960, 038-371 123 ext. 191.