The entertainment industry has been one of the worst hit by the COVID-19 epidemic, with many workers losing their livelihoods.
But the good news is that it looks almost certain that pubs, bars and karaoke places will be allowed to reopen from 1st July.
A meeting was held on Sunday between the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and nightlife representatives. The outcome was that the CSSA recommended that entertainment places be allowed to reopen.
There will be full meeting of the CSSA this coming Friday to confirm the decision. Everyone at the meeting expects that to be a formality though, with the industry planning to get back to work on 1st July.
There will likely be safeguards put in place, as there have been with other venues, such as shopping malls, restaurants, etc. But without any reported local infections for 27 days, there isn’t really any reason to keep the bars closed any longer.
It should be stressed that it is up to each provincial governor to decide whether to open entertainment venues in their areas, but I can’t see why any would choose not to.
This is another step back to normality for Thailand. Next will be the easing of foreign arrivals, which is expected to start with the arrival of business people from certain countries such as Japan, Singapore, etc.
We’re still some way off tourist arrivals, but we’re slowly getting there. Some think that mass tourism in Thailand is finished for this year though. Maybe best to wait until next year before making plans to visit.