Destinations knownCannabis. ‘BL drama’ locations. Casinos? ‘Sinful’ Thailand’s tourist draws expand as it seeks post-pandemic economic recovery
- Thailand’s borders have reopened and visitors may find a changed nation, with marijuana use decriminalised and Amsterdam-style cafes opening in Bangkok
- Thai boys’ love dramas are luring fans looking to visit locations from the hugely popular gay romance TV series. Even casinos are on the cards
The squares may not approve, but Thailand is making up for lost time in any way it can.
Having an economy that was, pre-pandemic, 12 per cent tourism, the Southeast Asian country suffered more than most when the world stopped travelling during the long months of Covid-19 restrictions. But now that Thailand is open for business again, visitors are finding a country that is appealing to new tastes.
The decriminalisation in June of cannabis use – which came a few weeks before Thailand dropped Covid-19 controls on foreign visitors – has led to the opening of several cafes devoted to the recreational use of the drug across Bangkok recently, reports Reuters.
The news agency visited one in backpacker ghetto Khao San Road: RG420 (a reference to rag gan, a Thai expression meaning “love each other”). Owner Ong-ard Panyachatiraksa told Reuters that business was booming: “Europeans, Japanese, Americans – they are looking for Thai sativa,” he said, referring to a cannabis strain. “Cannabis and tourism are a match.”
Amsterdam could have told him that.