It has been a full month since the government escalated the lockdown measures to the strictest to contain the worsening health crisis posed by the new variants of coronavirus. But it wasn't only a month-long time that food and drink businesses and showbiz ventures have been suffering, struggling day-to-day to make ends meet, their businesses alive—these business ventures have been undergoing such hard times since last year. A turmoil of opening-closing guidelines poorly enforced by the authorities from last December has put multiple sorts of venues on instability, forcing industry people to speak out.
Time Out Bangkok also takes part in giving support to local businesses by helping to amp up their voices through all of our channels. In the past few months, we checked back and talked to a lot of people from restaurants, bars, and the entertainment industry over their experiences running a business amidst the pandemic.
In case you missed any of our interviews, here they are.
Ekameth “Tay” Wipvasutti from Brave Roasters
"We’re not asking for zero commission, but I want to see how the [people behind these] apps can become more humane and come up with a better, more sincere way to show us they actually got our backs."
Sebastian de la Cruz from Tropic City
“Bars are always the first to close and the last to open, and we always get the blame for spreading the virus, which is not true.”
Jutamas “Som” Theantae from Karmakamet Conveyance
"In the meantime, the “rulemakers” should comply with the rules they make, shouldn’t they? Accusations are thrown at one another, when the people don’t follow the rules and neither do the makers themselves."
Chris Wegoda from Comedy Club Bangkok
“I don’t ask anything from anyone, and I just feel that we need to do our part as much as anyone else in making sure that COVID goes away. We just want to do everything we can.”
FULLFAT Theatre
“It’s completely nonsensical how they keep buying weapons like submarines when these things can’t be used to fight the virus. I can say that everything is falling apart because the government is incompetent.”
