CityNews – 9th March 2020, with the drastic drop of tourism, and corresponding income, over 100 vendors at the Night Bazaar’s Anusarn Market have come out to beg their landlords for help by reducing their rent. The vendors have requested a 50% discount on their rent until the economy improves as they simply can not survive with the estimated 80% reduction in income.
Oytip, 50, a vendor who chose not to give her surname, said that it was the disappearance of Chinese tourists which has caused the 80% drop in her income over the past month. She said that she needs the 50% discount or she will have to close business.
Yositha, 52, owner of Yositha Souvenirs which has been in operations for over a decade, said that there are days when he hardly makes any sales at all. Whereas he used to sell up to 10,000 baht per day, it is now down to under 2,000 baht a day. The rental fee of a few thousand baht a day is therefore no longer sustainable. He asks the landlords to please give them help as otherwise the market will no longer be able to open. 