Phuket Election, Royal Cremation to Close Venues Saturday and Monday
By Phuketwan Reporter
Thursday, April 5, 2012
PHUKET: Tourists visiting Phuket who like to drink alcohol face official bans on sales or restrictions on consumption at some venues over the coming Easter weekend.
While Easter in Christian cultures has religious significance and usually brings a holiday marked by social gatherings, on Phuket on Saturday it's election day for the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation.
The once-every-four-years event means that sales of alcohol will be banned across Phuket from 6pm on Friday until midnight on Saturday.
Restaurants and nightspots throughout Phuket and all across Thailand have also been asked to close on Monday, April 9 as a mark of respect during the royal cremation of Her Royal Highness Princess Bejraratana Rajasuda.
The farewell ceremony for the princess, the only child of King Rama VI, will be held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok with tributes to be paid at three temples on Phuket and many others throughout the country.
Rachin Pongmakkul, President of the Hotels Association of Patong and vice president of the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter), said yesterday it was unclear at this stage whether trading would resume on April 10 or the following day: ''We hope to have clarification soon.''
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha and many other Phuket VIPs are to attend a ceremony for the princess at Wat Vichit Sangkaram (Wat Kuan), near Provincial Hall in Phuket City, on Monday.
Other gatherings will take place on Phuket at temples in Thalang and Kathu, with the elaborate and lengthy Bangkok ceremony telecast on large screens.
