What is a night market? It is also called a Night Bazaar, but in simple terms, it is a market that operates at night. In a more defined definition, a night market is, according to Nor Khomar Ishak, Khursiah Abdul Aziz, and Amri Ahmad, “a grouping of temporary outdoor stalls operated by petty traders where products are displayed for sale.” What does this definition mean? It is said that a night market is a marketplace where traders or merchants looking to make profit come together, specifically at night, and sell their products. These products are often made by the traders themselves or often sourced from another trader who made the products. Products vary from cultural souvenirs to staple goods to foods. Night markets traced back to the Tang dynasty of China. Similarly, back then, night markets happened on the street. Traders would set up their stalls alongside the street within cities or at temples, according to the demand of the locals. Nowadays, there is often a determined location that traders would go to set up stalls. The success of night markets grew tremendously and is now considered as a tourist attraction in many Eastern countries.
While there are other night markets in the world, for this particular blog, I will focus mainly on night markets within Thailand. There are numerous night markets spread throughout Thailand. Some of the more popular markets include Chiang Rai Night Bazaar, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Talad Neon, and Chatuchak Weekend Market. Chatuchak Weekend Market is located in Bangkok and opens during the weekends only. However, within the two days that it is open, it can attract from 200,000 to 300,000 tourists every week. Given this, it is assumable that other markets experience similar numbers but may differ depending on size and location. That would mean that every week, the night markets throughout Thailand have the potential to easily attract millions of tourists alone, excluding locals. According to the article Quietly into the night by Pitsinee Jitpleecheep and Narumon Kasemsuk, night markets in Thailand generate 40 trillion baht or 1.168 trillion USD each year.
That said, all information from above in regards to night markets in Thailand are obtained pre-COVID-19. The Coronavirus or COVID-19 struck the entire globe late 2019 going into 2020. Since then many industries have taken a major toll. Night markets was one that was hit heavily from COVID-19. Night markets rely on the foot traffic of tourists and even locals to make a profit. With the COVID-19 pandemic going on, countries set travel restrictions which decreases traffic to other countries. Before the pandemic, Thailand experienced a constant number of over 30 million tourists into the country, with 39.92 million in 2019. Shortly after COVID-19 hit, the number went from over 30 million to a mere six million to zero to ten thousand late 2020. The six million were also just those who arrived before the pandemic. The pandemic has since then changed how night markets are. Night markets are not as vibrant as they used to be. They are not like how I remember them to be. Every corner and every spot at the market was utilized. Tourists were everywhere buying local products. It was just a joyful experience. Speaking with the locals too, tremendous amounts of stalls closed down and traders resorted to other alternatives to make a living. Truly is a sad sight to behold. Thankfully in 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination is available and has lessen travel restrictions. This has allowed for an increase in tourists lately and the reopening of night market stalls.
So, are night markets successful? In hindsight, yes, night markets are successful. It is just that given the current world situation, there are many challenges and factors to consider. The pandemic obviously has a major impact on night markets but political and cultural factors do have a role in it too. For instance, while there are night markets in the United States, it is not equally known or popular compared to Thailand’s night markets. Factors that contribute to this is the idea that people don’t feel safe at night in the United States. Another factor includes the amount of tourists that come to the United States to visit night markets. Majority of tourists come to the United States for our landmarks, museums, history, parks, and so on. Rarely are night markets the main objective. To fully understand how night markets can be successful, it is crucial to understand cultural and political factors within the country where one intends to set a night market.
Works Cited
LODGING Staff, et al. “Survey Reveals What Attracts Visitors to U.S. Destinations.” LODGING Magazine, 1 Mar. 2019, https://lodgingmagazine.com/survey-reveals-what-attracts-visitors-to-u-s-destinations/.
“20 Night Markets in Thailand.” Https://Www.thrillophilia.com/, 21 Apr. 2022, https://www.thrillophilia.com/night-markets-in-thailand.
“7 Night Markets in Bangkok You Must Visit in 2022.” TopTravelFoods, https://toptravelfoods.com/article/night-markets-in-bangkok.
“Asian Institute.” Night Markets: The Cultural Melting Pot – Asian Institute, https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/ai/student-blog/night-markets-the-cultural-melting-pot/.
Dynamism of a Night Market – AABRI. https://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/11774.pdf.
Limited, Bangkok Post Public Company. “Quietly into the Night.” Https://Www.bangkokpost.com, 25 Oct. 2021, https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2203559/quietly-into-the-night.
Tourism Statistics Thailand 2000-2022 – Thaiwebsites.com. https://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourism.asp.