Air quality concerns threaten Thailand's tourism growth

[webfact]

 

Minor International chairman William Heinecke emphasized the necessity for Thailand to collaborate with neighboring countries in finding practical and sustainable solutions to tackle the PM2.5 and air pollution issue. He expressed this concern during a group interview, citing the anticipated growth in Thailand's tourism and hospitality sectors this year.

 

While acknowledging the positive performance of Thailand's tourism industry compared to other regional countries, Heinecke voiced apprehension about the potential threat to this momentum posed by poor air quality, which is no longer limited to seasonal fluctuations.

 

Recent Air Quality Index (AQI) data raised alarms about prolonged bad air quality in Thailand. Despite the current AQI reading at a moderate level of 28 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), it remains 1.12 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended level of 15 µg/m3.

 

Heinecke stressed the importance of collaboration not only within Thailand but also with neighboring nations to address the severe air pollution problem. His concerns align with experts who emphasize the need for structural attention rather than short-term measures.

 

Nipon Paopongsakorn, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of public participation in finding solutions due to the diverse causes of air pollution in different parts of Thailand.

 

Despite these concerns, Heinecke expressed optimism about the Thai government's proactive approach to addressing air pollution. He commended the administration for taking favorable steps, such as the visa waiver and other initiatives, which have contributed to a positive outlook for the tourism sector, reported THE NATION.

 

Heinecke projected that Thailand could expect at least 33 million visitors this year, thanks to these supportive measures. Notably, the Cabinet recently gave preliminary approval to the Clean Air Bill proposed by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, raising hopes for a more comprehensive and long-term solution to Thailand's air pollution challenges.

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-01-31

 

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[daveAustin]

Stop people burning and smoke belching vehicles! Big fines/imprisonment for perpetrators. Chiang Mai has fairly decent air in cool season but anywhere near a road is a nightmare with the disgusting sawngthaews and esp tuk tuks. It is not against Thai culture to hate these but absolutely is Thai culture to put up with it. Enough! Get in the 21st century already!

Edited January 31 by daveAustin

[apetley]

Where we are in Kanchanaburi the figure has been over 100 for ages and will remain that way for sometime. Air quality is appalling, all the kids at school have had sore throats, hacking cough and itchy eyes for weeks and nobody with the power to do something about the problem gives a <deleted>. Thoroughly depressing situation that seems to have no end.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

For sure. Definitely affect my plans to go there either for holiday or for longer periods in the bad places in bad seasons. 

[connda]

I that picture of CM (above in Webfact's article). Sad to say I've seen worse over the last decade and a half.

TAT: "Welcome to beautiful Chiang Mai."
Tourist: "Where?  We couldn't see anything as we flew in due to the thick smog."
TAT: "No worry.  Bad air stop when rain come in May."
Tourist:  Note to self.  Don't travel to Chiang Mai from February until May.  Hummm.  I that's when I usually have vacation.  "Honey, let's go someplace where the air quality is excellent next year."

 

Edited January 31 by connda

[it is what it is]

 

flying back after a visit to singapore, the air pollution over bangkok is quite scary, i'm beginning to think i'll spend less time here.

[flyingtlger]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

raising hopes....

That's about it, nothing will come of it.

[Tropicalevo]

But the rich get more rich and the poor get more sick

[ChipButty]

COME TO Rawai in Phuket there is a lovely breeze blowing off the ocean, at 7-30 am this morning I had a drive around along the beach road with the windows down really refreshing, 

[Emdog]

. "Despite the current AQI reading at a moderate level of 28 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), it remains 1.12 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended level of 15 µg/m3." What hole do they pull these numbers from? Check right now for Bangkok is 153-184.

These morons worried about tourists, don't give a damn about the health impact on Thai people

[Mr Derek]

More parks and green areas to counter the urban heat island effect would help - they just keep building on every available space and the city is getting denser. Then the problem is too many vehicles. And when the farmers start burning that will be an even bigger problem.

 

Lack of foresight and control as usual.

[orchis]

A lot of coughing and sneezing in public transport in Bangkok now.

The trend seems to be that air pollution in Bangkok is now Dec Jan Feb and up North Feb to end of April, so that makes 5 months of the year and all of tourism high/peak season.
Apart from burning in and around Thailand (fields/agricultural waste/household waste/sugarcane fields-to increase sugar contents-/charcoal burning in households) there is pollution and/or dust from traffic but also a lot from construction and airplanes.
The relatively cooler air keeps pollution to the ground.

Edited January 31 by orchis

[realfunster]

35 minutes ago, Emdog said:

"Despite the current AQI reading at a moderate level of 28 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), it remains 1.12 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended level of 15 µg/m3." What hole do they pull these numbers from? Check right now for Bangkok is 153-184.

These morons worried about tourists, don't give a damn about the health impact on Thai people

 

Beat me to it ! Lord knows where/what they are talking about.....

[samtam]

41 minutes ago, Emdog said:

These morons worried about tourists, don't give a damn about the health impact on Thai people

 

Yes. It's truly sad that this is the benchmark for tackling the problem:

Let's make sure it's good for tourism. No consideration for the poor (and rich) citizens of the Land of Smog.

[ikke1959]

It is forbidden to make a fire outside, no burning is allowed nowadays and the fines are 100k for ones who do it, told my Thai partner. If you see someone making fire you can report it and you get a reward of 4000 THB. This morning we saw on 3 spots that Thai people were burning leaves and branches. Thai people told that if you call the police they don't come and so no fine and no rewards. So they said, why should we bother if someone is making a fire.   If you want to solve the problem, come in action instead making rules and do nothing anymore. Indeed not the tourists will stay away , but local population have live in the dirt air and probably get sick , which cost a lot of money. But who cares in fact??  

[John Drake]

Yet another day with AQI 160+ across western Bangkok. Third day in a row. Do Western embassies warn potential tourists from their countries of the hazardous air quality in Thailand and SE Asia?

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Minor International chairman William Heinecke emphasized the necessity for Thailand to collaborate with neighboring countries in finding practical and sustainable solutions to tackle the PM2.5 and air pollution issue.

Clean up your own back yard first... Most of Thailand looks like a toilet, and most of the dust comes from construction sites, crumbling old buildings and a serious lack of national cleanliness.

[DPKANKAN]

3 hours ago, apetley said:

Where we are in Kanchanaburi the figure has been over 100 for ages and will remain that way for sometime. Air quality is appalling, all the kids at school have had sore throats, hacking cough and itchy eyes for weeks and nobody with the power to do something about the problem gives a <deleted>. Thoroughly depressing situation that seems to have no end.

Today now in Kanchanaburi 

[spidermike007]

Ratings for AQI were well over 150 today in many parts of Bangkok. The slothful administration is doing next to nothing to address this problem, Sretta keeps on yacking non-stop and doing nothing, which seems to be his M.O. Talk but don't act.

 

All they have to do is crack down on the farmers that are burning the sugar, and the refiners that are processing the sugar from fames that burn. And diesel vehicles that haven't changed their oil in 3 years, which are belching out these huge columns of smoke. Yet nobody does anything. Are there any adults in this administration?

 

My guess is that tourism will suffer, who wants to come visit a country where the air quality is out of control if Beijing could improve their air why can't  Bangkok? 

 

Woe are the Thai people and those that have to live in areas with horrific air. 

Edited January 31 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

Though it does threaten tourism, it threatens a lot more than just tourism. It threatens the health and well-being of the nation, it threatens the potential economic growth of the nation, it threatens the future of the nation.

 

The sloth that is being exhibited by this administration is just simply a repeat of the sloth that was exhibited by the last administration. What do they both have in common? The spectacularly toxic and utterly useless Thai Army. 

[Mr Derek]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

All they have to do is crack down on the farmers that are burning the sugar

 

 

They daren't crack down on the farmers for fear of revolution.

Look what's happening in France at the moment. That's partly due to environmental regulations.

 

Edited January 31 by Mr Derek

[newbee2022]

Hope dies last.....🤢

[cardinalblue]

The incompetence of thailand decision makers is the core problem 

 

they pay attention when tourism numbers fall but zero concern for their own citizens and foreigners health when being exposed to air pollution…

 

that is what should drive policy and enforcement…they can’t recognize that AP is killing/making sick their own people in the country…instead they are more worried about lack of foreign monies being spent here 

 

not a smart culture to put it politely 

 

 

[Northstar1]

11 hours ago, apetley said:

Where we are in Kanchanaburi the figure has been over 100 for ages and will remain that way for sometime. Air quality is appalling, all the kids at school have had sore throats, hacking cough and itchy eyes for weeks and nobody with the power to do something about the problem gives a <deleted>. Thoroughly depressing situation that seems to have no end.

Why complain? You have chosen to live there! Why not move?

 

[MrJ2U]

"Air quality concerns threaten Thailand's tourism growth"

 

For anyone whose lived here long enough it' been a concern for the 20 years I've been here.

 

Visiting my wife's village and everyone still burning everything in front of there house (despite the introduction of garbage cans within the last two years). Huge manmade ashtrays that get blown around by passing cars, motorcycles, wind.

 

Unfortunately it's the same problem in all of South East Asia.

 

Dreading the upcoming burning season. 

 

 

[Gknrd]

And people want to retire there. It boggles the mind. No rights, no property to own, pay the government for the privilege to live there. And choke to death.  

Makes the saying "stupid farang" make perfect sense.

Ahhh, ok now it makes sense.. Haha

Edited January 31 by Gknrd

[VocalNeal]

36 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

For anyone whose lived here long enough it' been a concern for the 20 years I've been here.

 

I lived in Bangkok for over 14 years and have lots of mates and acquaintances who exercise regularly outside. Not one of them has ever mentioned to me their concern over air quality in Bangkok.

 

 

[CygnusX1]

11 hours ago, Emdog said:

Despite the current AQI reading at a moderate level of 28 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), it remains 1.12 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended level of 15 µg/m3." What hole do they pull these numbers from? Check right now for Bangkok is 153-184.

These morons worried about tourists, don't give a damn about the health impact on Thai people

I think the journalist is confusing AQI with PM2.5 levels. According to a quick web search, AQI is an index measuring levels of ozone, particulates, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, presumably some kind of weighted average. 

[mommysboy]

3 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

I lived in Bangkok for over 14 years and have lots of mates and acquaintances who exercise regularly outside. Not one of them has ever mentioned to me their concern over air quality in Bangkok.

 

 

 

I expect their vocal chords are shot!

[still kicking]

10 hours ago, John Drake said:

Yet another day with AQI 160+ across western Bangkok. Third day in a row. Do Western embassies warn potential tourists from their countries of the hazardous air quality in Thailand and SE Asia?

No never