Thailand’s Red-Light Districts Reopening Under Strict Conditions

Last updated on May 18th, 2021 at 05:36 am

Thailand’s red-light districts reopened on Wednesday after more than three months with performers wearing bikini’s as well as face masks. The face masks are a mandatory requirement to stop the spread of coronavirus. Bars, karaoke venues and massage parlous were in the latest category of businesses allowed to reopen with conditions.

Thailand has gone 37 days since recording any local transmission of the virus. It meant a return to work for some of the hundreds of thousands of people in Red-Light districts who have been struggling to survive. “I lost all my income,” said Bee, a 27-year-old dancer who goes by her stage name at the XXX Lounge in the Patpong Red-Light district. “I’m glad that I can come back to work in a job that I’m good at. I’m OK with the mask because it’s one of the precautions.”

Red light district goers must also give a name and telephone number. Inside, everybody must sit at least one meter apart and two meters from the stage. British expatriate Michael Theo was among those who questioned the need. “You can take a BTS (train) in the morning with 200 people on a packed train but then you can come into a bar and still have to sit 2 meters apart,” he told the media.

The government has staggered the reopening of public places over several weeks. Schools also resumed on Wednesday. Cockfighting and fish fighting venues remain closed.

The coronavirus has killed 58 people out of 3,173 infections, a relatively low number even within the region. But Thailand’s economy is forecast to sink further than any other in Southeast Asia with the number of foreign tourists expected to drop 80% this year. At the Dream Boy club on Patpong’s Soi 1, bare-chested men with faceshields tried to encourage the few passers-by off the street.

But many businesses remained shut and there were few customers. “There are bars all over Bangkok that have been open for 10 to 15 years and now they are closed and they are not coming back,” said Christian Henrich, who manages the XXX Lounge.

Tags: covid-19
Burapha

Sawadee-khrup. I am a multicultural Thai newswriter that is always on the lookout for daily news that are intriguing and unique in my native country Thailand.

View Comments

  • Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.

Recent Posts

TWICE Joins Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ Tour for a Seoul Spectacle in 2025

Especially when it's the internationally known British rock band Coldplay linking up with K-pop phenomenon TWICE, few events match the…

November 2, 2024

China Caught in the Crossfire: Tensions Rise as North Korea and Russia Strengthen Alliance

Tucked on a 12-story structure in northeast China, visitors flock to get a rare view of the junction of their…

November 2, 2024

Could Westeros Dragons Soon Soar into the Big Screen? ‘Game of Thrones’ Film Reportedly in Early Development

HBO's Game of Thrones has created a void in the fantasy world of television that no other show has quite…

November 1, 2024

Preparing for U.S. Election Impact: Sen. Imee Marcos Urges Self-Reliant Defense Amid Uncertain Times

Head of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Imee Marcos underlined the need of the Philippines getting ready for…

November 1, 2024

Strengthening Ties: UAE’s Minister of Tolerance Embarks on a Historic Visit to Indonesia

Not too long ago, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, the prestigious Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence of the United Arab…

November 1, 2024

Box Office Battle: Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Set for Epic Diwali Clash

Two big banner movies of Bollywood are preparing for a festive season box office battle as ‘Singham Again’ starring Ajay…

November 1, 2024

This website uses cookies.

Read More