According to hoteliers, the proliferation of marijuana shops and outdoor smokers causes more harm than good.
PUBLISHED: September 21, 2023, 19:22
As they believe illegal marijuana shops have done more harm than good to tourism over the past month, tourism users have praised the prime minister’s promise to outlaw recreational cannabis use within six weeks.
In an interview with Bloomberg this year, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin insisted that the state would change the hemp scheme so that it could only be used for medical purposes within six months.
He previously stated that he personally disapproved of using the plant for outdoor purposes.
According to Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, team executive director of Sunshine Hotels and Resorts in Pattaya,” You can now easily find a cannabis store every 200 to 300 meters along the roads of Pattrayan, and 90 % of them are not for health functions.”
He claimed that because there have been a couple instances of hotel guests using excessive amounts of cannabis and needing to be taken to the hospital while unconscious, the loosening of regulations and weak police have had more negative effects on tourism than positive economic effects.
Additionally, there were issues for visitors from nations that forbid the consumption and importation of marijuana products, many of whom were unaware that some items purchased here, such as foods and beverages, contained marijuana.
According to Mr. Thanet, law enforcement may be stricter if we want to use it for health purposes to ensure that we can provide them with health care that is healthy for their health.
He claimed that while Thailand was failing to properly control this industry, the majority of tourists were abusing the loophole and had no intention of traveling there solely to smoking cannabis.
After the flower was taken off the cocaine list, many cannabis shops opened on every street in Phuket, according to Suksit Suvunditkul, chairman of the Thai Hotels Association’s southern book.
He claimed that most resorts must forbid cigarettes in their rooms because it annoys other guests, particularly families with young children.
He claimed that if the government restricts cannabis use to just clinical uses, hotels completely concur.
In order to prevent unchecked business expansion, the private sector in the provinces recently discussed the effects of uncontrolled businesses and proposed planning cannabis use for outdoor purposes.
Phuket’s tourism industry, however, would not be impacted if the authorities decided to close all cannabis-related businesses because the area is already recovering to a 2019 level, even without marijuana liberalization.
According to Mr. Suksit,” European guests have recovered by 80 %, with forward bookings reaching 40 – 50 % in the upcoming high season.”
” The hospitality industry would not be impacted if the government closed marijuana stores.” Yet before cannabis was legalized, Phuket experienced steady progress.