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The clean-up of Thailand continues...

- STREET FOOD vendors will disappear from Bangkok by the end of the year in the interests of cleanliness, safety and order, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) says.
Wanlop Suwandee, chief adviser to Bangkok’s governor, said yesterday that the internationally recognised areas of Yaowarat and Khao San Road would be the next target after they successfully cleared the pavements of food vendors in areas such as Siam Square, Pratunam, and the flea market under Phra Phuttayotfa Bridge.

“The BMA is now working to get rid of the street vendors from all 50 districts of Bangkok and return the pavements to the pedestrians. Yaowarat and Khao San Road will be our next goal in clearing out illegal vendors,” Wanlop said.

‘No exceptions’...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30312543

The only reason that I ever go to Bangkok is to eat the street food. Is it a bit much to think that there will be a drop in tourism if they get rid of all of the street vendors?

wont affect tourism ( 30 million ++) at all
this will affect the locals and vendors

Has there been an epidemic of illness due to street food in Bangkok recently?

In Thailand right now.
Had a very nice Green Curry w/chicken tonight.
Pud Grapaow mu for lunch.
Whole fried Barramundi last night.
Also, another Pud Grapaow, and a Mu Manaow the previous day.
The only disappointment was the Pizza Company for lunch yesterday, but I'll get over it.

Even if they get rid of the street food, there are plenty of grotty little restaurants selling cheap authentic Thai food.
Life will go on.

Thai Street Food is like one of the great things about Thailand

seems to have already started...

We took a walk on Soi Thong Lor (Sukhumvit Soi 55) last night to see how many vendors were observing the new law banning street food in their ‘hood.

The law took effect on Monday, which was part of the Songkran holiday and the one day of the week when vendors were prohibited to sell anyway. We thought we would find at least a few vendors that weren’t observing the law and had set up their stalls with the intention of moving quickly if the police showed up. Instead, we found… nothing.

Strips of the main street that are usually so congested with food stalls that you have to walk around them into dangerous traffic were deserted.

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/ ... wn-photos/

and than this development,

They make a ruling and wait to see how much backlash it generates and than....

owever, in an interview with Voice TV this morning, Chairman of Advisers to Governor of Bangkok Vallop Suwandee refuted the circulating news, stating:

"It is very far from the truth. In fact, it is the opposite. Khao San and Yaowarat roads are two main centers of tourism in Bangkok. Therefore, the BMA is making plans to help preserve this Thainess for foreigners. We are simply putting stricter regulations to keep these areas in order, ranging from the hygiene of the food served to the prevention of food waste thrown into the streets. We are not stopping the stalls from selling their food, but are just regulating the quality and order."

http://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/new ... g-anywhere

I may be dead wrong but I think it's a war on Issan. My guess would be that a majority of street food and merchandise vendors on the street are, if not from Issan, from the countryside and the junta and elite would like to see fewer OF them. Permanently. In addition they probably pay no taxes, while all the surrounding storefronts DO. Seems to me the powers that be wish to mimic world cities, tall buildings alone won't do it. There are none of the neat nick nack sellers left on Suk. Only bullshi*t like fantasy knives and the like. The face viagra guys are all still out there tho. You can't even get a decent t shirt anymore. For me it's fast becoming just another too large city. Soi 38 is dead mostly, with a surviving small food area under an aprtment house with prices that are triple or more what the street vendors.
I think they are trying to purge the last vestiges of the Viet Nam war good time city.
Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it seems to me. Adding to all this is the condo craze. I suspect you could find street food easy enough out past 90 somewhere. Friend told me 95 food area got closed a while ago. I do not linger in Bkk anymore, tho I used to love it.

Thais are stupid to do this .

they wannabe developed but are just a backward military dictatorship.

people are stuck in the early days when Thai was fun and carefree.
2009 till mid 2014 in my opinion.
now thailand is expensive and Thais are haters