Restaurants in Pattaya and Chiang Mai are urging authorities to allow alcohol consumption until midnight or 1am during the Songkran holiday period to help shore up their business.
Patsanat Asvachaisopon, managing director of Grand Jomtien Palace Hotel, said the government should further ease its alcohol consumption rule during the holiday.
Despite Songkran being a long holiday, hotel bookings in Pattaya remain relatively low with most tourists making reservations for one night only on April 13, she said.
Extending alcohol consumption hours at restaurants beyond 11pm would help bring in more income and spur tourism, she said.
Wasant Sanguanthoykham, owner of Sart Sura restaurant in Pattaya, said many venues have decided to remain closed even after the ban was lifted.
With most customers arriving between 9pm to 10pm, he said, they have only one or two hours to sell…
