Pattaya restaurant operators want the government to reverse its decision to suspend dine-in service, saying the economic damage outweighs any risk of spreading Covid-19.
Owners of 15 eateries in the Small Town Pattaya project, located between sois Chalermprakiat 3 and 10 near Nong Or Temple, said May 8 that they have no customers for takeout or delivery service.
Small Town executive Warunpatprapada Jansawang said vendors rent spaces in the open-air market known for dine-in, not takeaway.
Paitoon Boonsir, owner of Vintage Somtam, said open-air restaurants should be exempted from the dine-in ban imposed on “deep red” or maximum coronavirus control zones.
He said Small Town’s customers don’t consider the market a place to take food to go, and setting up delivery services is expensive and time-consuming.
He also said delivery is unfeasible, as vendors must purchase stock with no guarantee anyone will order. Dine-in customers are much more predictable, Paitoon said.
