Thailand to ban alcohol on religious holidays
(02 July 2009)The Thai government is banning alcohol during Buddhist holidays from next week, if a proposed decree is enforced.
The Federation on Alcohol Control of Thailand (FACT) is concerned that the order for alcohol-free religious holidays will damage local tourism and related businesses, such as hotels, pubs and restaurants.
"It will disappoint foreign tourists visiting Thailand, as drinking alcohol, such as wine and beer, is part of their everyday routine. They may switch to other countries next time," said a FACT spokesperson.
Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), says drinking alcohol is such a large part of many holidays that he fears hedonism-seeking tourists will opt for other destinations at these times.
He said: "How can tourists enjoy their holiday in Thailand without drinking? Like Phuket or Pattaya, they're coming for beaches and fun. They like to have beers and some drinks on the beach.
"I think it's good for locals to stop drinking during that time, but tourists will be upset."
Fresh ideas are just one click away...
Travel Deals
-
Finland Family holidays There is something about the snow in Finland that makes you wonder if the locals sneak out at night and spray it with a coat of brilliant white paint – it
-
Finland Activity & adventure holidays Finnish Lapland has enormous areas of untouched wilderness and mile upon mile of wild rolling fells. This vast open countryside, sparkling in the winter sunshine, just begs to be explored by
-
Orlando Adrenaline Whether you’re enjoying the hair-raising delights of the world’s only flying rollercoaster called Manta at SeaWorld or racing through the Everglades on an airboat in search of alligators, one thing’s for
-
Cambodia Luxury holidays Today Cambodia is symbolised by awesome Angkor Wat, the largest man-made religious structure in the world. However, Cambodia is also home to some of the finest boutique hotels in the world
-
Laos Inspire Me When the French colonised Indochina they had a saying: "The Vietnamese grow the rice, the Cambodians watch the rice grow, and the Lao people listen to the rice grow." This is
-
Vietnam Cultural breaks Vietnam is a country with a rich and varied history that is now firmly focused on her bright future. This is why it has become one of the hottest destinations for
