‘Hamburger Crisis’ Hits Hard – Restaurateurs squeezed by soaring costs and shrinking spending, warns industry leader Sorrathep Steve. PATTAYA, Thailand – A wave of rising kitchen costs is battering Pattaya’s once-thriving restaurant scene, leaving owners scrambling to stay afloat amid surging prices for gas, raw ingredients, and labor. Many restaurateurs now warn that 2025 is shaping up to be even worse than the COVID-19 era — a dire scenario fueled by weak consumer spending, spiraling costs, and a perceived lack of effective government intervention. Sorrathep Steve, President of the Restaurant Business Club and honorary advisor to the Hostel Association of Thailand, voiced deep concern over what he called a “hamburger crisis” — a perfect economic storm where restaurants are being squeezed from both ends: unsustainable overheads and vanishing customer purchasing power. Speaking on behalf of struggling operators, Sorrathep made an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Paetongtarn and her economic team, urging them to act before the sector collapses entirely. He proposed five emergency measures to help keep businesses alive: Scrap the third round of digital wallet giveaways and instead reinstate the Khon La Khrueng co-pay scheme for six months to directly support daily food expenses and stimulate spending at food vendors of all sizes.   Allow tax deductions for food receipts, so individuals and companies can claim back expenses — a budget-neutral solution that would encourage formal spending and boost state revenue. Control energy and raw material costs, especially as Thailand heads into another dry season likely to send produce prices soaring.   Cut Social Security contributions for businesses by half until the end of 2025, to reduce payroll pressure.   Implement short-term tourism stimulus plans while laying out a 15-year integrated strategy to promote sustainable tourism, instead of simply holding sporadic seasonal events. “The government during pandemic at least tried to manage the country with the people in mind,” said Sorrathep. “Now, between 2023 and 2025, restaurant operators have repeatedly called for targeted tax relief. For example, allowing individuals to deduct up to 20,000 baht and corporations up to 100,000 baht in food-related expenses. But this administration is silent, as if it’s not even thinking.” According to him, the government’s earlier cash handouts — worth hundreds of billions of baht — have failed to reach street food stalls, SMEs, and fresh markets. “The money disappears into debt repayments,” he said, “while restaurant costs keep climbing and customer numbers keep falling. The end result: closures, layoffs, and a decimated food service chain — from farmers and delivery drivers to vendors and staff.” As tourism — long considered Thailand’s economic engine — continues to sputter, restaurant revenues are dropping by more than 50% in many cases. The much-anticipated ‘We Travel Together’ or Rao Tiew Duay Kan travel subsidy program has also been delayed to the point of irrelevance, missing the critical Q4 2024 window and arriving just as consumers run out of disposable income. “Restaurants form one of Thailand’s largest supply chains,” Sorrathep emphasized. “When they thrive, so do markets, farmers, logistics providers, and employees. A strong economy depends on strong SMEs — but it seems like the Prime Minister and his cabinet either doesn’t understand this or have no interest in learning.” The message from Pattaya’s restaurant community is now loud and clear: the plate is empty, the bills are piling up, and time is running out.