Tourist Numbers Making A Comeback In Khao San Road

According to the head of a business operators association on Bangkok’s Khao San Road, visitor numbers are increasing. This update follows the easing of Thailand Pass requirements for foreigners, making travel to Thailand easier. However, the number of tourists visiting the Khao San Road has not yet surpassed 20% of pre-Covid levels.

In April, Thai officials maintained a tight grip on would-be Songkran celebrators by enforcing stringent health protocols. The president said that many firms on Khaosan Road had canceled their Songkran celebrations. The president of the Khao San Road Business Operators Association, Sa-nga Ruangwatthanakul reports that despite the restrictions, more visitors visited Khao San Road during the Songkran event to enjoy the markets and bars.

Since Thailand loosened its entry guidelines on May 1, the number of visitors has continued to rise.

Sa-nga said that as a result of the significantly simplified entry requirements, businesses may now earn similar to those of the pre-Covid period.  Sa-nga is asking the government to eliminate the requirement for foreign visitors to register for a Thailand Pass and organize efforts to attract tourists back to Khao San.

He noted that the government’s efforts to declare Covid-19 an endemic in Bangkok will benefit the tourism industry.

Covid-19 has hampered the Thai government’s ambitions for Khao San Road. The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority said in 2019 that it would spend $1.6 million to turn Khao San Road into an “international walking street,” thus transforming the famed tourist street from its prior “backpacker haven” status into one with a broader tourist appeal.

Source: Bangkok Post

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