Beach vendors were allowed to work until 2 a.m. on Loy Krathong to provide extra service to holiday revelers.
Deputy mayors Poramet Ngampichet, Banlue Kullavanijaya and Ronakit Ekasingh met Nov. 12 with 20 chair and umbrella operators from Jomtien and Pattaya beaches to discuss their request to work past the normal 6:30 p.m. closing time.
The vendors were allowed to continue offering chairs and refreshments, but must work to keep the beach clean in return.
Huge crowds throng to Pattaya-area beaches on Loy Krathong to launch flower-and-candle floats and flying lanterns on what is considered Thailand’s version of Valentine’s Day. However, the mess they leave in their wake is substantial, requiring massive cleanup efforts the next day.
The vendors also took a futile stab at killing the “no chair Wednesday” policy that forces them to close-up shop once a week. They said the beach on Thursday is dirtier after a day of no service than it is after they work.
Ronakit was unmoved, saying the “back to nature” day is a junta policy and will remain in place for at least as long as the military stays in power.
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