Some shopping centres and hotels in Rajprasong and nearby areas of central Bangkok have reopened, but they are haunted by losses estimated by the Rajprasong Square Trade Association to be more than Bt11 billion.
Erawan Bangkok Shopping Centre reopened on Monday. Siam Paragon opened its doors again yesterday and Amarin Plaza will resume operations today. Gaysorn is scheduled to reopen on June 4.
Dusit Thani Bangkok reopened yesterday, but most hotels - like the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, the InterContinental Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok and Renaissance Bangkok Rajprasong - will open their doors today.
RSTA president Chai Srivikorn said the anti-government protest caused damage estimated at Bt11.275 billion to 2,088 businesses in the Rajprasong area. Of the total damage, inflicted in April and May, retailers suffered losses amounting to Bt10.488 billion, while the remaining Bt787 million came from 10 hotels. This affected 30,661 workers.
Despite the preliminary estimate, the RSTA will spend some time assessing damage to assets that occurred in the May 19 riots, Chai said.
As well as opening free space for retail vendors, Central Retail - a sister company of CentralWorld-owner Central Pattana - yesterday announced a plan to create 700 new jobs to help people affected by the turmoil. It is looking for sales people, cashiers, customer-service officers and technicians.
Human-resources firm Adecco Thailand is also accumulating available jobs in an effort to help more than 10,000 workers who could lose their jobs in the aftermath of the political crisis. It is also offering free consultations on writing job applications.
Country manager Thidarat Kanchanawat said people affected by the riots should look for jobs at www.adecco.co.th and attend a consultation session on June 5.
Businesses in the shopping area are now working with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to repair footpaths, street lighting, trees, banners and closed circuit TV systems.
From now until the end of this year, the Rajprasong Square Trade Association plans to organise shopping and tourism campaigns to draw visitors back to the area, targeting both Thais and foreigners.
The campaigns include an "End of Season Sale" from June 15 to August 31, featuring 30- to 70-per-cent discounts; "We Love Rajprasong"; two food festivals, "The Great Taste of Bangkok" and "Thai World Gourmet Food Festival" in October; and decorative lighting from November through January for Bangkok Countdown.
Chai said the RSTA would also organise familiarisation trips for the foreign media to assure travellers of safety. It plans to spend Bt100 million to promote the campaigns and is seeking support from agencies such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.