High season?

[Paangjang]

From your local experience, when is the so called "high season?" In August the town center seemed quite busy. I guess thats down to the European summer holidays. However right now it's like a ghost town. In the southern islands by mid October the tourist numbers really start to increase.

Suvanabhumi figures show busiest inbound flights are between November to Febuary then April (Songkran) then a second wave in August. When do the hotels and guesthouses in Chiang mai really start to fill up?

[habfan]

I can't say for sure when they start to fill up but I do know that most places change to hi season rates as of Nov 1st.

I have friends coming for a week, arriving on Oct 29th and all the places they looked into said their rates would be adjusted 300 to 400 baht a night commencing Nov 1st.

[Thailand]

November through to April is mainly the high season although the demographic has changed dramatically with the majority of the tourists now being Asian.

From next month the prices of golf courses,hotels etc will all be going up. Some of the businesses are adapting to the new demographic many are not.

[elektrified]

Are you writing a book?

[Ulysses G.]

When do the hotels and guesthouses in Chiang mai really start to fill up?

About a week before Loy Kotoey, but if it is too early in the month, it will calm down again and pick up again a few weeks later.

[Paangjang]

When do the hotels and guesthouses in Chiang mai really start to fill up?

About a week before Loy Kotoey, but if it is too early in the month, it will calm down again and pick up again a few weeks later.

Love the play on word. Can just image pushing a katoey down the river in his skirt

[Paangjang]

When do the hotels and guesthouses in Chiang mai really start to fill up?

About a week before Loy Kotoey, but if it is too early in the month, it will calm down again and pick up again a few weeks later.

Think you were right, it's gone quiet again. Busy LK but quiet again this week. Expect it busier next week onwards...

[Beetlejuice]

From what I am witnessing the so-called high tourist season in Chiang Mai seems to be declining year by year and I guess with all the political turmoil going on in Bangkok at the moment, that tourism in Thailand will be affected even more.

I doubt that the high season will even happen in Chiang Mai this year, perhaps a few extra die hard tourists may venture up to Chiang Mai for a few days, but socially it`s dead.

[Paangjang]

From what I am witnessing the so-called high tourist season in Chiang Mai seems to be declining year by year and I guess with all the political turmoil going on in Bangkok at the moment, that tourism in Thailand will be affected even more.

I doubt that the high season will even happen in Chiang Mai this year, perhaps a few extra die hard tourists may venue up to Chiang Mai for a few days, but socially it`s dead.

Strong words and i hope your wrong about the coming season but we shall see...

[elektrified]

From what I am witnessing the so-called high tourist season in Chiang Mai seems to be declining year by year and I guess with all the political turmoil going on in Bangkok at the moment, that tourism in Thailand will be affected even more.

I doubt that the high season will even happen in Chiang Mai this year, perhaps a few extra die hard tourists may venture up to Chiang Mai for a few days, but socially it`s dead.

Once again you are wrong. The tourism numbers are higher and higher each year. You are stuck in a time warp, back when Thailand catered to mainly farang tourists. That has changed beginning with the global financial crisis in 2007 when Western tourists could not afford to travel Internationally and instead vacationed close to home. Then as the years progressed and as Thailand's economy soared, Western tourists began to find Thailand too expensive for their taste. Now the demographics have changed. Other factors come into play: The Russians have a strong presence in Phuket now. Traditionally Swedish tourists were the first to arrive each year in high numbers (for like 30 years). Now as it was written in a major Swedish newspaper, the Swedes have given up on Thailand as their number 1 choice as they do not enjoy being around the Russians to put it mildly.

Do you ever go out and into the city? Do you know what the traffic is like out there? Have you ever noticed the huge numbers of tour buses everywhere? Apparently not. Tourism is booming here and in other places as well; like Phuket.

I was in the new Central shopping mall the other night for the first time. The place was absolutely packed with tourists. They were Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian. Singaporean, and Hong Kong. A great number must have been from Hong Kong or Singapore as I heard so many speaking proper English. I only saw about 10-15 farangs in the entire mall. And, as my Thai friend I was with pointed out as we left, at least 35% of the cars in the massive parking structure had plates from other provinces in Thailand. A huge percentage of them Bangkok of course and the usual Lamphun, Lampang, Phitsanulok, etc. etc. but also Phuket, Songkhla, and other provinces throughout the country. So you are also not seeing the huge numbers of Thai tourists coming here.

If you are judging your numbers based on how many farangs you see on Loy Kroh then you are using antiquated indicators! Hardly any money is spent at those run down little bars. Look around places like Nimmanhaeman where I also was the other day and saw the place packed with Asian tourists spending real money. I went to meet a friend at Kantary Hills and the guests were about 75% Thai according to a woman who works there that we chatted with.

You really need to lose your negative view and see what is really happening. "Socially C.M. is dead." Thanks for the laugh. It's better than ever.

[FolkGuitar]

I visit two different guest houses, alternating on a daily basis for lunch. I have never seen either of the as crowded as they have been for the past few weeks, and it seems to be increasing. I now have to arrive a bit earlier than usual if I want to get a table. Otherwise, I'd have to wait a hour for one to empty. While there aren't as many Western tourists as I've seen on past years, there certainly are far more Asian visitors than ever before. One that I was in yesterday afternoon AFTER lunch was, according to the owner, setting daily records for the number of lunches served.

[eyecatcher]

Spot on electrified, my modest business in Nimmen in the recent low season, has simply outgrown the premises, and need more staff as I dread to think how we can cope in jan and feb.

I think most people are judging Thapae area as what is going on.

Down there its the budget tourists, elsewhere more discerning tourists with deep pockets.

Sent via tin can and string after pigeon shot

[Beetlejuice]

From what I am witnessing the so-called high tourist season in Chiang Mai seems to be declining year by year and I guess with all the political turmoil going on in Bangkok at the moment, that tourism in Thailand will be affected even more.

I doubt that the high season will even happen in Chiang Mai this year, perhaps a few extra die hard tourists may venture up to Chiang Mai for a few days, but socially it`s dead.

Once again you are wrong. The tourism numbers are higher and higher each year. You are stuck in a time warp, back when Thailand catered to mainly farang tourists. That has changed beginning with the global financial crisis in 2007 when Western tourists could not afford to travel Internationally and instead vacationed close to home. Then as the years progressed and as Thailand's economy soared, Western tourists began to find Thailand too expensive for their taste. Now the demographics have changed. Other factors come into play: The Russians have a strong presence in Phuket now. Traditionally Swedish tourists were the first to arrive each year in high numbers (for like 30 years). Now as it was written in a major Swedish newspaper, the Swedes have given up on Thailand as their number 1 choice as they do not enjoy being around the Russians to put it mildly.

Do you ever go out and into the city? Do you know what the traffic is like out there? Have you ever noticed the huge numbers of tour buses everywhere? Apparently not. Tourism is booming here and in other places as well; like Phuket.

I was in the new Central shopping mall the other night for the first time. The place was absolutely packed with tourists. They were Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian. Singaporean, and Hong Kong. A great number must have been from Hong Kong or Singapore as I heard so many speaking proper English. I only saw about 10-15 farangs in the entire mall. And, as my Thai friend I was with pointed out as we left, at least 35% of the cars in the massive parking structure had plates from other provinces in Thailand. A huge percentage of them Bangkok of course and the usual Lamphun, Lampang, Phitsanulok, etc. etc. but also Phuket, Songkhla, and other provinces throughout the country. So you are also not seeing the huge numbers of Thai tourists coming here.

If you are judging your numbers based on how many farangs you see on Loy Kroh then you are using antiquated indicators! Hardly any money is spent at those run down little bars. Look around places like Nimmanhaeman where I also was the other day and saw the place packed with Asian tourists spending real money. I went to meet a friend at Kantary Hills and the guests were about 75% Thai according to a woman who works there that we chatted with.

You really need to lose your negative view and see what is really happening. "Socially C.M. is dead." Thanks for the laugh. It's better than ever.

Yes, I agree you make some good points and I am probably making my estimates according to the Loi Kroh Road and the surrounding areas, which I admit I was looking at this with a narrow-minded farang point of view.

It appears that the types of tourists’ ratio have changed in Chiang Mai. An increase in South East Asian tourists and a substantial decrease in Western tourists, the more popular spots now being the Nimmanhaeman area and has shifted from what used to be the main touristy areas in the centre of town. I have also noticed quite a lot of South East Asian people, other than Thais in the shopping malls and other areas just outside the main drag but never really thought about it much.

Guess this answers the OP`s question and also puts me straight regarding the tourist situation in Chiang Mai.

[mesquite]

CM is absolutely packed compared to a few years ago. There is no low season; only a high season and an ultra-high season.

[Beetlejuice]

CM is absolutely packed compared to a few years ago. There is no low season; only a high season and an ultra-high season.

I wouldn`t say that.

Agree that the South East Asians are replacing the Western tourists, but it what numbers and percentages?

Does anyone know where to look to find official statistics from reputable sources? Because I am yet to be convinced and would be interested to know the actual facts.

[qdinthailand]

You may be confusing the lack of backpackers filling up guest houses in "farang city" to a lack of tourism. It may be that the changing demographics of tourists, and changing tastes, are what you are failing to grasp. Perhaps the Asians like staying in the other places around CM, eating in other places, doing other things - visiting the tourist traps around the city, not in the city - instead of the normal westerner thing.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

From what I am witnessing the so-called high tourist season in Chiang Mai seems to be declining year by year and I guess with all the political turmoil going on in Bangkok at the moment, that tourism in Thailand will be affected even more.

I doubt that the high season will even happen in Chiang Mai this year, perhaps a few extra die hard tourists may venture up to Chiang Mai for a few days, but socially it`s dead.

Once again you are wrong. The tourism numbers are higher and higher each year. You are stuck in a time warp,

Ah is that what it's called.. time warp.

I'm not sure there is even a point in replying when it's plain to see how many more hotels and people there are compared to even 10 years ago, let alone 20. 99% of people reading this would just see that and just roll their eyes, right.. Not sure it needs pointing out to the current audience. Possibly it does though.

You may be confusing the lack of backpackers filling up guest houses in "farang city" to a lack of tourism. It may be that the changing demographics of tourists, and changing tastes, are what you are failing to grasp. Perhaps the Asians like staying in the other places around CM, eating in other places, doing other things - visiting the tourist traps around the city, not in the city - instead of the normal westerner thing.

Actually that's only partly the case. Because lots of Chinese tourists, and especially those visiting Chiang Mai in particular seem to do so independently (not on a big tour) and on a budget. In many ways these tourists are a blessing to the traditional small, cheap Chiang Mai guesthouse, as Western backpackers turned into Flashpackers and young family holidaymakers some time ago.

[beau thai]

In a rare trip inside the Moat area yesterday I was amazed to see so many Farang already-old and young- around the Sompet area. Certainly outnumbering Thai on the street in late afternoon. And the golf courses, as of 2 weeks ago, are seeing a dramatic increase in business, with may Japanese and Koreans too.

I used to think of High Season as from after the family christmas festivities in the west, until the burning- off in Chiang Mai mid/late February , but as the poster above says, maybe that is now ultra-high season. Another opportunity to whack up hotel and golf course costs maybe.

And maybe people who would have gone to Bangkok, are heading north instead because of international news and government warnings about the protests