Retired in Khon Kaen.  Spending a week in Chiang Mai.  Went to the night bazaars, local shopping areas, orchid farms, flower markets, silver jewelry district on Wualai, Big Malls.  So many outlets are closed or deserted.  Night bazaars, local stores, Wualai jewelry stores.   Closed.  Smaller malls were deserted.  Many stores shut down.   Orchid farms closed or deserted.  Their cafe's and retail stores closed.  Silver stores closed.  Slim pickings.  

 

At first, wondered where the local people are.  They still need to buy "things".  Resigned ourselves to Central Festivals.  Surprised.  Packed with cars and people.  Restaurants full.  Lines to pay were long.  That's where everyone is.  

 

The government is encouraging local folks (Thai and others) to travel in Thailand to boost the economy.  Hotels are open.  Already, visited the elephant farms, Doi Suthep, Big jewelry factories.  Few new places to visit that were open.  Flower market was mostly open.  Merchants complained of little business.  Few places to go unless you need to buy a car, car battery, new tires, botox, a new hip.

 

If government wants folks to travel, travelers need places to visit.  Local government needs to incent or help out the merchants.   Or, perhaps.  The new normal are the the megamalls.  They have everything under a single roof.  Place to eat.  Place to get botox.  Place buy jewelry, computers, clothes, mobile phones, top ups.  Almost everything, but a car battery.  Left out cars because there are Nissan, McLaren, Rolls dealers in the malls.  The latter two in Bangkok.  

 

The new normal.  Stilll TBD.

 

Fortunately, we signed up for a wonderful extended stay deal at Le Meridien.  Upgraded room.  Beautiful views.  Netfilx.  1/2 priced meals, massages.  

 

But, I feel 

Yes, what did you "feel" and was it during your massage ?

Thats usually at least double the price, rather than 1/2 price

An interesting report, thanks.

 

I do know that many small business traders, shops etc have chosen to close because of their concerns over covid, and probably also because they believe the tourist traffic is still too low to make it worth their while opening.

 

The people who work in the malls have less control over whether they go to work or not.

From the OP - "Netfilx.  1/2 priced meals, massages."

555

Central festival was very busy in places just after opening on Wednesday!

Uniqlo doing very brisk business. Other places seemed to have customers but appeared local customers.

A lot of accommodation in the area also so may be adding to the numbers.

Kham Tiang very busy also but in general tourists absent.

May not have much in the way of shopping but the weather has been perfect here in CM for the last week and looks to be the same 86F high 61F low, clear skies, for the next 10 days.  Good time to be outside!

 

Business you note closed or empty probably cater to int'l tourist, and the locals aren't that stupid.