PATTAYA, Thailand – Thailand will require gas stations nationwide, including in major tourist destinations such as Pattaya and other key travel hubs, to close between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. starting after April 20, according to Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The government says the measure is part of broader oil-saving efforts designed to maintain domestic fuel sufficiency amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Authorities are also accelerating the appointment of a new center to monitor and manage the situation, following the end of the previous committee’s term, alongside discussions on refinery margins with relevant agencies.
Officials said the overnight closure policy is intended to improve fuel management efficiency during the crisis period while maintaining supply stability across the country, including high-tourism provinces such as Chonburi, Phuket, and Bangkok, where international visitors are expected to be directly affected.
Anutin said the timing was deliberately set after the Songkran holiday period to avoid disrupting travel and to give both residents and foreign tourists time to adjust to the new operating hours.
Officials also cautioned that as the holiday period ends, travelers should prepare for multiple post-festival adjustments in daily life, including fuel-saving measures such as overnight station closures. They added that broader ripple effects may gradually emerge in the form of higher daily goods costs, as underlying logistics and transport expenses begin to reflect the tighter fuel management environment.
The government emphasized that all measures are aimed at ensuring maximum fuel efficiency while minimizing inconvenience for people returning to their hometowns and those traveling within Thailand.
