Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (13 May 2022)

Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (13 May 2022)

For most Thais this is a 4 day weekend, Friday through to Monday night. Today sees the Royal Ploughing Ceremony which celebrates the start of the rice sowing season, and Sunday is Visakha Bucha Day, which celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and deat h of the Buddha, and is a day when no outlet can retail alcohol here. This then also means that all state and official offices will be closed today through to Tuesday as will utility companies and most banks. Reminder though that in the case of emergency, all utility companies have hotlines to resolve supply issues.

Good news for eateries who look to prop up their businesses with home delivery. Currently some delivery companies are charging kitchens up to 30% of the retail price which leaves most without any profit. That’s been an ongoing issue for many through the covid era as delivery companies raked in the cash. For customers of course the price remains the same and they, in many cases, dont realise that their chosen eatery is paying 30% or even more, to get their business. NOW a national food delivery platform is being launched that will charge eateries just 8% of the bill. Initiated by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, the new app, EATS HUB is a partnership with TV direct and went online in the capital wednesday. Good news and a respite for small and medium sized food outlets, not so good, perhaps for the existing delivery companies who will have to either match the prices or, over a period of time, see a total reduction in business. Thats EATSHUB, keep your eye out for that across the net.

Looks like the military operation to reduce illegal immigrants is having effect, as this week when authorities questioned illegals caught at borders, they found that whereas before guides charged 20K baht to get into Thailand and be transported to illegally employing workspaces, the price has RISEN due to the clamp down here, to a whacking 80K baht. With the numbers dropping and others having to borrow those funds, of course there is no refund when their trip is cut short, and worse, other mafia style organisers are taking deposits of 20K baht with the workers then forced to pay the balance from their salaries until it’s paid off. That, for many, could take up to a year.

The Criminal Court has denied an application made by the Ministry of Digital Economy to officially close down the Bluedragon Lottery Co’s online lottery ticket platforms. Accused of retailing national lottery tickets at prices above the fixed 80 baht price, the company appealed to the courts and claimed that their website is simply a platform for others to trade tickets and doesn’t actually SELL tickets themselves, and the court accepted that they are simply an online trading platform.

Pattaya businesses are gearing up for a busy 4 day national holiday, seeing many hotels reporting full houses and the promise of busy roads around the city from this morning. Former eateries have been warned that authorities WILL be checking on illegal openings on Visakha bucha day but otherwise are being given a pretty wide berth as far as trade is concerned, seeing popular areas such as Buakhao and Walking street busy even midweek. For those thinking of taking a trip here, now for sure is a good time.

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