Bangkok’s famous Khao San Road, the backpacker capital of the world, will undergo a major transformation in about seven months, led by City Hall, with the aim of making this tourist mecca a full-fledged tourist attraction.
According to Deputy Bangkok Governor Sakonthee Patthiyakul, the remaking of Khao San Road will include granite repaving, raising of the road surface to the same level as the footpaths, landscaping and rezoning of approximately 240 pavement stalls.
Adjustable stainless steel poles will be erected along the road to demarcate a one-way traffic lane, he said, adding that a 48-millon baht budget will be set aside for the work.
City Hall plans to rezone and re-manage the 240 pavement stalls by grouping the stalls of similar type, such as clothing, souvenirs and food, together.
The deputy governor said that the operating hours of the pavement stalls will be from 9am to 9pm and the contracts for the pavement traders will be renewed every two years, so that new traders will have a chance to do business in this popular tourist spot.
To prevent a monopolization of the pavement stalls, each trader will be allocated only one stall, by means of drawing lots, and the stall rental fees will be paid to City Hall. Push carts selling drinks, fruit or food will not be allowed into Khao San Road.
For the next step, Sakonthee said that the city administration will apply the Khao San model to the nearby Rambutri Road.
Khao San Road is a 400-metre strip packed with bars, eateries, guest houses offering cheap accommodation, hotels, souvenir shops and pavement stalls offering a great variety of consumer products.
