Managers and staff from hundreds of entertainment venues have gathered for several crisis meetings to protest and discuss strategies to fight the order by new Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung to shut all bars at 2am. Bars in "Sin City" were previously able to shut at 4am or even later.

Representatives from night-time entertainment outlets plan to seek a meeting with the minister to discuss his directive, which they say is restricting business and "giving the city an unfavourable image" among foreign tourists who go to Pattaya to experience its famed nightlife.

Pattaya City Council has backed the business people, saying the city brings in a huge amount of tourist income, but this was now being jeopardised.

Mayor Niran Wattanasart-sathorn, his adviser Itthipol Khunplome, and former MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul were involved in discussions with representatives of entertainment outlets, who are demanding a return to longer operating hours.

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