Entertainment venues, clubs and karaoke bars in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattya, Chiang Mai and Samui, popular tourist destinations, will be allowed stay open two extra hours until 4 AM, Traisulee Traisaranakul said. The decision to allow entertainment venues to stay open longer is the latest step taken by the government to boost foreign arrivals after the government in September waived visa requirements for Chinese visitors, a key source of tourists for Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy. Thailand has so far welcomed 24.5 million foreign tourists this year and is forecasting 28 million arrivals for the full year. Before the pandemic, Thailand booked a record 39.9 million arrivals, with 11 million from China. This year, the government expects just 3.5 million arrivals from China.

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Persons: Chalinee, Chiang Mai, Traisulee Traisaranakul, Srettha Thavisin, Paarat Thepgumpanat, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Entertainment, Thailand's, Southeast Asia's, Thomson Locations: Thai, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Phuket, Pattya, Southeast, China