Some businesses and stores have ceased operations and the city of Lopburi, once the province’s thriving trading hub, has been evacuated and about 3,500 monkeys now rule the area.
Pingya Shopping Center representative Surachat Chanprasit said monkeys often swarm the store and harass shoppers.
It also caused damage to the front of the store, causing the owner to spend a large amount of money on repairs and hasten to withdraw from the store.
It was put up for sale two years ago after mischievous monkeys were preventing people from visiting local shopping centers and reducing retail space.
However, the property remains on the market despite its price being reduced from 100 million baht (US$2.8 million) to 70 million baht, causing growing commercial damage in the monkey-occupied city. It’s highlighted.
The shopping arcade’s management also reduced rents to tide over the crisis after tenants asked for their leases to be terminated.
“Earlier, Chinese investors used to visit the area to check the feasibility of their investments,” Surachat said.
Monkey attacks, sexism and fistfights: Welcome to the cruise from hell.
Monkey attacks, sexism and fistfights: Welcome to the cruise from hell.
“However, investors realized that the problem of the monkey population threatening the city center was not resolved and postponed their investments indefinitely.”
The Lopburi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said regulations on building height restrictions and the maintenance of historic buildings were exacerbating the problem, Khao Sod newspaper reported.
Phongsathorn Chaichanapanich, head of the lobby group, said businesses had moved out of the area opposite the popular Phra Pran Sam Yot temple.
He added that policy changes are needed to boost the city’s economy and increase tourist numbers, including amending laws to allow monkey management in urban areas.
He said, “The government will decide at the policy level how to develop Lopburi as a historical city with many historic sites, and how to contribute to promoting tourism in the province and attracting more tourists.” There is a need.”
Lopburi province and its large herds of monkeys have long attracted tourists from all over the world, who usually feed the monkeys and take selfies with them.
The area also hosts an annual monkey festival to acknowledge the animals that help attract tourists to Lopburi.
Governor Ampol Ankapakorunkulu recently visited the city and pledged to work with the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department to address the issue.
