BANGKOK, Thailand – A Thai restaurant owner has voiced concern over the country’s worsening economic conditions, saying falling sales, declining foot traffic and business closures are putting increasing pressure on small businesses and ordinary households.
In a Facebook post, restaurant owner Tiradej Titathakosol said many shopping centres were seeing fewer visitors, shops were gradually closing and employment opportunities shrinking. He warned that conditions could worsen when the government’s Thai Help Thai Plus 60/40 co-payment scheme reaches the end of its current period.
He said small community businesses, particularly those serving lower-income customers, were already struggling and could face even greater hardship after the end of this month. He also questioned whether the government would extend the scheme or introduce new measures after the New Year, saying businesses and households had received little clarity about future support.
Drawing on his own experience of running a restaurant for 10 years, including surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, he said he feared the coming months could bring even quieter trading conditions.
Tiradej also pointed to changing tourism patterns and industries increasingly relying on imported Chinese products rather than employing Thai workers as additional pressures on the economy.
He called on the government to introduce measures to ease household and business costs, including temporary debt repayment suspensions or reductions in principal and interest for bank loans, mortgages, vehicle financing and insurance-related payments. He also urged authorities to consider extending repayment periods without imposing additional costs later and finding ways to reduce food and everyday living expenses.
He appealed to policymakers to pay closer attention to the struggles of small businesses and ordinary people rather than viewing the economy only from the perspective of central administration. (Report & Photo: Khaosod)
