Pattaya nightlife slowly comes to life

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Walking Street remained quiet on the first night after the lockout July 1.
Walking Street remained quiet on the first night after the lockout July 1.

Pattaya’s nightlife is slowly coming back to life, with growing numbers of bars reopening every day after the long shutdown.

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The government gave the OK for bars, pubs, karaoke clubs, massage parlors, and game centers to resume full operation, with operating hour limits. But few businesses opened right out of the gate on July 1.

Customers on Soi 6 are asked to check in via the government’s Thai Chana contact-tracing app.
Customers on Soi 6 are asked to check in via the government’s Thai Chana contact-tracing app.

For many, it was a case of weighing the cost of reopening against the lack of tourists to generate income.

For others, time was needed to clean, recall staff and ready disease-control measures. And still others decided to wait until after the holidays, saying it wouldn’t make sense to call staff in to open for two days, then shut down again during until after the religious holidays.

Saifon Knanyium, a manager of a Soi 6 bar, said customers are given temperature checks and hand sanitizers and asked to check in via the government’s Thai Chana contact-tracing app. The bar also has tried to enforce social distancing as much as possible inside a hostess bar.

Police (not shown) made their presence felt in the rain on Walking Street, checking the few bars that were open to make sure they were collecting customer information to facilitate contact tracing.
Police (not shown) made their presence felt in the rain on Walking Street, checking the few bars that were open to make sure they were collecting customer information to facilitate contact tracing.