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The government of Thailand has decided to implement changes in an effort to improve street food locations in the country’s capital—Bangkok.
Earlier reports on the issue claimed that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will ban street food vendors across the city. However, a representative from the BMA later said that rather than banning vendors, they will simply be asked to stay in zoned areas. This initiative hopes to address the congestion experienced by pedestrians in busy sidewalks that were being overtaken by street food stalls. Vendors located in small alleys will also be allowed to continue operating as long as they do not cause inconvenience to anyone.
Aside from regulating the areas where vendors can operate, the BMA will also implement stricter hygiene guidelines. Mandatory training courses for vendors and the ban on washing dishes by the side of the road are included in these guidelines.
According to the BMA, it recognizes that the street food culture is integral to the identity of Bangkok. However, stricter initiatives are needed to be put into place in order to maintain discipline and increase food safety standards in the capital.
Bangkok’s street food culture has drawn a lot of tourists from all over the world. In fact, both CNN and Forbes have ranked Bangkok as the number one destination for street food. Tourists love Thai street food not only because it is tasty, but also because it is inexpensive. Among the tourists’ favorites are pad thai, a stir-fried noodle dish, and grilled satay, which are grilled meat on skewers.