Surviving in Pattaya during the corona crisis
The closure of bars in Pattaya due to the coronavirus outbreak has caused a domino effect on the economy. The bar employees no longer use motorbike taxis and the (mobile) food sellers also see their turnover drop sharply. This chain shows how the (micro) economy of Pattaya is interconnected.
Ann, a Walking Street go-go dancer, said she was left unemployed without compensation when the Chonburi Governorate decided to close all entertainment venues, bars and pubs last week. After deducting all expenses, she said she still had about 2.000 baht to her name. So she left for Korat instead of an “expensive” stay in Pattaya where rent, food, transportation and other costs are higher than elsewhere in the country and would require a lot more money.
But with Ann and her other unemployed colleagues, there are far fewer customers for motorcycle taxi driver Duangden Sangtawan. Previously, from his taxi rank at Rungland Village, he was earning up to nearly 1.000 baht a day from barmaids taking them back and forth to and from work. Due to the closing of the bars, his income has fallen to less than 300 baht a day. Because of this, Duangden has had to cut back on food at the restaurants and food stalls he used. Now he eats at the cheapest locations to survive.
Eateries such as Chok Chai on Soi Khopai have felt the backlash. She provides relatively large portions for only 40 baht in order to retain the few customers.
The government is now discussing economic relief for people and small businesses affected by the corona virus. Unfortunately, this group falls outside the mentioned measures, because in the past no tax was paid on income!
For them it is survival one way or another until this crisis is over and tourists return to Pattaya.
Source: Pattaya Mail
I fear that Pattaya will not survive this blow. As long as there is no vaccine, the vast majority of tourists will not want to or will not be able to return (due to all kinds of restrictions that Europe and Thailand will impose).
That means, at best, until early next year that Pattaya will remain empty. If there is only a vaccine in 18 months, a resurgence cannot come until October 2021.
But even then: the purchasing power of the tourists will have taken a heavy blow by then, what will the air fares be then? And what will be left of the catering industry in Pattaya by then? How are all those restaurants, bars, going to bridge a year, maybe longer, without income. Many businesses will close their doors permanently. Pattaya threatens to become a ghost town and therefore no longer attractive to tourists.
I hope I'm wrong. My wife's daughter has a shop there and we have a house on credit. So this threatens to be a disaster for us too. But I don't have a good eye for it and I don't believe in miracles. But without a miracle, Pattaya as it was until now is doomed.
I hope others have sensible arguments to counter this view.
I think there is little point in speculating about what is to come at the moment. The world must first deal with the current reality and try to find a solution for it again. This will undoubtedly be followed by a new beginning...with new opportunities and challenges.
Pattaya will never become a ghost town.
Of course, many businesses will close their doors. That is an opportunity for entrepreneurs who start with fresh courage when we enter calmer waters.
I hope you're right, Jan, but I'm afraid those entrepreneurs won't be there. Everyone will be grounded in a year. You can probably take over a business or buy a house for a bargain price. But all those hundreds of bars, restaurants, …
The big hotel chains can handle it, but all those small entrepreneurs, without much reserve…
In Jomtien Complex, in the gay area,
is a wonderful initiative created by some farang bar owners.
They provide daily simple meals and bottled water to the boys who used to work there and are now on the street, without money, without anything.
Anyone can donate.
I brought my donation there this afternoon and the thanks were great!!!
I hope that all those men, who hung out in the pubs night after night, now also put out the helping ones!
During the afternoon everyone can go there to donate money, and the boys can come and get their plate of food at the end of the afternoon!
Help them, please!
Two entrepreneurs in the Walking Street distribute 500 meals in the afternoon to people who
need and can't afford!
Ls,
If I speak for myself. GO to Thailand every year for 1 month in the winter period, around mid-January.
I have already made the choice for myself to skip only 1 year or the situation must have changed for the better. Been coming here for 38 years so it's a 'thing'.
g Rob
Same for us. The plan was to return at the end of October, but that will not happen unless there is a vaccine and no travel restrictions. But that is almost impossible and then it will be October 2021.''
We, as state pensioners and pensioners, can count ourselves lucky that we have and maintain a fixed monthly income. Bring home the bacon.
Well , suddenly I actually feel very safe , here in the village .
With drinking water for rad for a year,
own water from the ground, the banana plantation
and a whole bunch of different vegetables in the garden
and the mango, papaya and coconut trees, among others.
Luckily I don't need toilet paper either.
Keen Mortgage or debt and enough money in the bank.
What will happen in the big cities when the money runs out ,
and the supermarkets are empty and you can't get food anywhere?
I don't even want to think about all those refugee camps in Europe,
that edge are full of Muslims and you know what is in the Koran,
about the disbelievers and what to do with them in the name of Allah.
Let's hope that the water supply and power supply will continue,
otherwise it becomes a real problem.
Yes, that elite / government will sit comfortably in their underground bunkers
with the attitude , let them die as long as we survive .
(Wasn't there an Illuminati plan to decimate the world's population?)
If only people had taken better care - sorry, but you are not one of us,
then you can not enter the bunker .
Many books have been written about this scenario and films have also been made.
But then you sit comfortably with a bag of chips or popcorn after watching such a movie
and never gonna believe, that this can really happen –
until it happens!
These are just my thoughts that I get when I hear and read nothing else every day
about Corona, Corona and more Corona
or am i already ding dong?
Who knows……
Pattaya will survive this
No matter how difficult the situation