Chiang Mai tourism: Haze issue risks long-stay senior tourist numbers

[webfact]

Photo Courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Tourism operators in Chiang Mai are urging the new government to address the persistent haze issue to attract the return of long-stay senior tourists, whose absence has dealt a significant blow to the province’s economy.

 

The leader of the Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, visited Chiang Mai last week and discussed environmental and tourism policies with local industry representatives.

 

According to Tanit Choomsang, the vice-president of the Tourism Council of Chiang Mai and president of the Chiang Mai Restaurant and Bistro Association, the heavy PM2.5 smog earlier this year considerably impacted tourism confidence until the Songkran festival in April, dissuading visitors from booking trips in advance.

 

“Instead of staying for a whole year, a number of senior tourists returned to their home country to escape the smog season in Chiang Mai,” said Tanit. “Thailand has lost opportunities because of this ongoing problem.”

Tanit revealed that some Scandinavian long-stay retirees have vowed not to visit Chiang Mai any longer, leaving only short-stay tour groups. Japanese retirees, on the other hand, chose to remain during the smog season and adapted their lifestyles accordingly.

 

by Alex Morgan

Top Photo Courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/economy/chiang-mai-haze-issue-risks-long-stay-senior-tourist-numbers-economy-suffers

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-19

 

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[Don Chance]

It will only get worse.   Soon seniors will be coming for a 4 week vacation during the monsoon.

[spidermike007]

Urging this administration to address environmental issues, is like urging the Pope to consider making abortion legal. It is like urging Justin Bieber to start writing deep, meaningful songs. It is like urging The Weekend to create songs that will not be forgotten by next year. It is a bit like asking Trump to behave with integrity, or Prayuth to consider the interests of the masses. It just will not happen.

 

If Pita gets appointed the new PM, there is a chance Thailand can move forward, the regressive, toxic, damaging, caustic, and completely out of touch dinosaurs can be moved out of the way of progress, and the nation can see some progress.

[Guderian]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

long-stay senior tourists, whose absence has dealt a significant blow to the province’s economy.

Well it's nice for once to hear someone mention that expats living here are important to the economy, the way the Thai government, Immigration and Pattaya City behave you'd swear we were completely valueless.

 

I've lived in Pattaya for 20 years and I've never known the air quality to be so bad for as long as it was this year (though it's fine now). If that starts becoming a regular event, or gets worse, then I think I'll be looking for fresher pastures in which to spend my money.

[malibukid]

the new government will have to spend money and subsidize the farmers with modern equipment  and at the same time police and impose large fines and the threat of land confiscation to repeat for offenders

[Bangkok Barry]

A friend of mine in the US told me her father, who has breathing difficulties, was considering moving to Chiang Mai, and she asked me for my views. I told her it might be the worst possible place for him to relocate to. So yes, the headline is accurate.

[DRD123]

14 minutes ago, Guderian said:

If that starts becoming a regular event, or gets worse, then I think I'll be looking for fresher pastures in which to spend my money.

I love the North and actually miss it everyday but will no longer live there. The burning season is not 2 months thats BS it's 6 months long.

 

South of Chumphon is where its at for clean air with the occasional smoke from Indonesia but barely a blip when you look at the historical air quality data.

 

Hope they can monetize the "smoke" ie: pay for the crop residue and burn it cleanly and make electricity or compost it but with lung cancer rates double up North its just not worth it.

 

I will visit in rainy season.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism operators in Chiang Mai are urging the new government to address the persistent haze issue to attract the return of long-stay senior tourists, whose absence has dealt a significant blow to the province’s economy.

Sack the governor... said it before and keep saying it.

The man in CM has done nothing

[MrJ2U]

34 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Urging this administration to address environmental issues, is like urging the Pope to consider making abortion legal. It is like urging Justin Bieber to start writing deep, meaningful songs. It is like urging The Weekend to create songs that will not be forgotten by next year. It is a bit like asking Trump to behave with integrity, or Prayuth to consider the interests of the masses. It just will not happen.

 

If Pita gets appointed the new PM, there is a chance Thailand can move forward, the regressive, toxic, damaging, caustic, and completely out of touch dinosaurs can be moved out of the way of progress, and the nation can see some progress.

I agree.

 

Even if Chiang Mai and the surrounding principalities stopped all burning (never happen) it's the majority of surrounding countries like Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, etc that contribute to the terrible smog.

 

In my opinion it's only going to get worse.   If you're going  ne

to go, visit in the rainy season.  It's still beautiful and it's healthier. 

[Unify]

I just got back from Chiang Mai. I would probably live there were it not for the air pollution. Air pollution is a risk factor for the obvious lung cancer and emphysema, and less obviously for heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

 

Not all of these conditions have warning signs (for those who say "Air pollution doesn't bother me.")

[JimboB4]

Pollution, COVID, I can’t imagine tourism must be taking a huge hit after the last 3 years, hard times. Better keep weed fully legalized that’s the only way to save the economy at this point. It’s the cure for the economy and for tourism issues it’s more than a bandage it’s the total fix for the problem. 

[killala]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Urging this administration to address environmental issues, is like urging the Pope to consider making abortion legal. It is like urging Justin Bieber to start writing deep, meaningful songs. It is like urging The Weekend to create songs that will not be forgotten by next year. It is a bit like asking Trump to behave with integrity, or Prayuth to consider the interests of the masses. It just will not happen.

 

If Pita gets appointed the new PM, there is a chance Thailand can move forward, the regressive, toxic, damaging, caustic, and completely out of touch dinosaurs can be moved out of the way of progress, and the nation can see some progress.

Don’t hold your breath…

[Chongalulu]

48 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Sack the governor... said it before and keep saying it.

The man in CM has done nothing

Would a new appointee make any difference? Isn't the current incumbent simply a representative of the wider malaise in the country? What thanks would he get for trying? Probably just opprobrium from the vested interests for whom the status quo benefits 

[nickmondo]

1 hour ago, malibukid said:

the new government will have to spend money and subsidize the farmers with modern equipment  and at the same time police and impose large fines and the threat of land confiscation to repeat for offenders

and what about Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, where the majority of the smog comes from ?

[spidermike007]

How long have you lived here? How often have we seen promises like this? This current administration is infamous for pledges, declarations, proclamations and promises. Few are even remembered, much less followed up upon two weeks later.

 

Feel free to cite some environmental promises that were followed up on, if you can. Otherwise, this is just a pedantic high school level debate, and you are advocating for men with a staggering level of incompetence and indifference toward their land, water and the common man. 

 

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land.

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century.

 

Then they can move on to tackle the sale of diesel vehicles, and the government's enthusiastic support of such. It is inane in this day and age. Most nations are moving away from diesel for good reasons. When they are not well maintained, they foul the air, with large, nasty particles. And who properly maintains their vehicle here?

[TheFishman1]

Me think next year will be exactly the same as it’s always been in Chiangmai TIT

[Stefanix]

Interesting that this health threatening problem becomes only an issue if revenues are impacted.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

38 minutes ago, nickmondo said:

and what about Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, where the majority of the smog comes from ?

 

I don't recall ever having seen any authoritative breakdown that divvies up the various levels of contribution to the air pollution problem here by country.

 

Suffice to say, things would be a lot better in Thailand if Thailand got its own house in order for starters.

 

[sambum]

Year after year we hear the same story with the script changed only slightly - you could almost "copy and paste" and use every year!

[wwest5829]

Retired 12 years here in Chiang Mai. Love the city but ... last year we spent the month of April in Koh Samui. This year we spent the month of April in the USA. I am voting "with my feet" resulting in lost revenues for the Chiang Mai region. Next year ... perhaps Vietnam. lao Cambodia as my This Wife and Daughter have never been ... and we need to escape to cleaner air.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, nickmondo said:

and what about Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, where the majority of the smog comes from ?

The smog comes from the burning forests on the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai.

It's not from the farmers, diesel vehicles or foreign countries.

The villagers are out burning vast areas of forest every year, and nobody stops them.

[nycjoe]

If it were only thailand that is creating the problem then there are solutions, you can tell where the burnt fields are and fine them, either through satellite images or aerial reconnaissance. Unfortunately it is not only a thailand problem. the haze is coming form Cambodia, Burma, Laos and China, it has to be an asean thing and few politicians want to lose potential votes.

[picctrainop]

I agree with Unify… I want to live in Chiang Mai but it’s the air quality that stops me relocating…

[1happykamper]

Well that's very sweet to try and protect is "wealthy" farang here in Chiang Mai.. Locked indoors with aircon.... 

 

What about the poor buggers who are working the fields every day! What about the men and women all working outdoors for 10 hours day? 

Thailand really doesn't give a sht about it's own people so farang are sht outta luck. Hence the farang leaving... and they will never return.

[cardinalblue]

3 hours ago, DRD123 said:

I love the North and actually miss it everyday but will no longer live there. The burning season is not 2 months thats BS it's 6 months long.

 

South of Chumphon is where its at for clean air with the occasional smoke from Indonesia but barely a blip when you look at the historical air quality data.

 

Hope they can monetize the "smoke" ie: pay for the crop residue and burn it cleanly and make electricity or compost it but with lung cancer rates double up North its just not worth it.

 

I will visit in rainy season.

Correct - pro air polluters try to spin the AP season as 2 months….the air gets bad from mid Dec until Jun 1st or if the rainy season comes early in May like this year…in the 20 years living here in CM, this year has been the worse from a severity perspective

 

until the gov does something about the big Thai Agro companies encouraging farmers to enter into contracts for animal feed products, nothing is done as financial contributions to all political parties to remain silent, nothing is done to stop the burning 

 

 

[Yorkshire Tea]

3 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Even if Chiang Mai and the surrounding principalities stopped all burning (never happen) it's the majority of surrounding countries like Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, etc that contribute to the terrible smog

This year, the governor tried to cut down on burning.  It worked at first, and AQI was around 150 (not good, but not "hazardous").  This was probably due to smog blowing in from neighbouring countries & provinces, feb-march.  Then in April the Chiang Mai forests were lit by the mushroom pickers.  That's when AQI went through the roof.  Thankfully i was out the country for April.

[WashingUpagain]

I have lived in Chiang Rai for the last 2 years and until this year, had planned to stay forever. What a shocker this year has been and what an eye opener. The PM2.5 count went over 800 some days. The poor air quality lasted for 5 months! I have now left CR, might return to visit for a few weeks each year but the air quality is such a huge issue for me. What a great pity, I love Thailand but this is a huge issue and like many, I feel it will never be resolved, there just isn't the will...one could say, that's 'Thai culture' for you.

[rudi49jr]

The air pollution for 5-6 months around the dry season is the number 1 reason for me not to retire there. I was in Chiang Mai in the dry season of 1988/89 for six months and absolutely loved it, mostly sunny, clear skies you could see forever, nice temperatures, not too hot, and quite cool during the nights.

I’ve been back twice since then, got bronchitis both times. Now it’s just a more or less constant haze, it’s quite hot, the hot season starts much earlier. So thanks, but no thanks for me, I will find me another spot to retire to, probably not even in Thailand.

[rwill]

Is there a long stay senior tourist visa?

[KhunLA]

Anyone who asks, I tell them not to bother coming to TH, and if so, only during rainy season, which kills any beach holiday, as seas too rough.

 

Brother is coming over next year, early May.  Hope the rains start earlier than they did this year.  Doing Nam first and I told him not even to bother with TH, since going there.

 

I'm fairly positive, he's going to hate both countries.  Both way below his 'level' to travel.  SEA is one giant economically depressed area, and no way will he mentally be able to adjust to it in a short few weeks.

 

I still haven't got a clue what the attraction is for returning visitors, except P4P.