Chiang Rai to grow Sakura to attract tourists

[webfact]

Chiang Rai to grow Sakura to attract tourists
By Coconuts Bangkok



CHIANG RAI: -- Udon Thani’s rubber duck should worry because Chiang Rai is preparing its own marquee tourist attraction, the “Road of Sakura.”

Chiang Rai officials have agreed to buy 1,000 cherry blossom trees from Japan to line its roads and create an iconic, selfie-friendly tourist destination, Governor Pongsak Wangsamer announced Sunday.

The trees will blossom alongside about 20 kilometers of road running from Chiang Rai’s international airport. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/04/30/chiang-rai-grow-sakura-attract-tourists


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-04-30

[laurentbkk]

any other jokes like this one ????????????? TAT always find the best to attract tourists.

[teddysbuttons]

I'm wondering why Chiang Rai sends to Japan for tree's. Do we not have native blossom tree's in Thailand?

And a street full of tree's is going to bring hoards of tourists?

Edited April 30, 2014 by teddysbuttons

[Fiddlesticks]

Yes, the airport road is a scenic wonder that will wow tourists. Good idea not to put them in a desirable area like along the river! Can't wait for tourists to stop their cars along the airport road and stand there taking selfies!!

[goldmonky]

How long are cherry trees in blossom..?Surely not the whole year and who will come here to see cherry blossom? lol.

[Fiddlesticks]

How long are cherry trees in blossom..?Surely not the whole year and who will come here to see cherry blossom? lol.

Cherry blossoms are always a big tourist draw. I will usually travel to the Doi Mae Salong area to see them in bloom. They do not bloom very long however.

All the more reason to put them in an area that will draw sight-seers for an extended period. The area where they have the flower festival (along the river) would be very nice. There is parking there and many other gardens for visitors to walk through.

[hyperdimension]

How long are cherry trees in blossom..?Surely not the whole year and who will come here to see cherry blossom? lol.

They must have been inspired by the cherry blossom season in Japan. I returned from a 2-week trip in Japan recently and cherry blossom viewing was one of the main planned activities. The trees only blossom for 1 or 2 weeks, which makes that time of year a special one for both the locals and tourists. The Japanese people themselves travel around the country to see the scenery, particularly in Kyoto. The Philosopher's Path looks very nice during full bloom:

The canals in Japan look far better than our khlongs, and they don't smell either!

Various web sites post blossoming forecasts which allow people to plan where to go in advance. Different areas of Japan have different dates of full bloom. Most people would not go to see only the trees, but also to see the local sights, culture, food and architecture.

I think simply planting trees in the hope that people will come and bring in money would fail, as there would need to be a variety of things on offer. Even in Yoshino, which is a rural mountainous area of Japan, I saw many traditional-style restaurants and food vendors along the main paths (without being tacky or over-commercialized).

Edited April 30, 2014 by hyperdimension

[marcusd]

Better to have cherries you can eat. Flowers first then weeks of fruit.

Beautification is always a positive step

Marcusd. Via tapatalk

[allan michaud]

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How long are cherry trees in blossom..?Surely not the whole year and who will come here to see cherry blossom? lol.

2 weeks is the answer and it varies depending on the temperature. However given the temperature in Japan is colder I am not sure they will even grow here. I wonder how much they paid per tree, probably a ludicrous amount.

[wileycoyote]

Well ,I am positive.

I really enjoyed the Floral Exhibition a couple of years ago ,and I think it is a good "green " step forward

[anthobkk]

If Japan (or any other country around) were trying to copy Thailand, TAT will try to sue them for sure ! Same happened with Songkran in Singapore

[Lupatria]

I would happily fly 11.000 km just to see this, after my underwater marriage. Is this another idea of the TAT?

[brianmarinus]

I am not sure it was this kind of trees but some of you may remember some years back...at that time the same road WAS really beautyful whit trees like those on each side to the airport.

I dont know why they removed them...it was like driving through a tunnel of flowers and before we stopped using that road as it is so bad we always talked about how nice it was then.

[HerbalEd]

How long are cherry trees in blossom..?Surely not the whole year and who will come here to see cherry blossom? lol.

For many decades tens-of-thousands of tourists flock to both Japan and Washington D.C. for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. But not cynical farangs, evidently .

Edited April 30, 2014 by HerbalEd

[Frank James]

We have cherry trees in abundance in Seattle and other US Pacific Northwest cities. They blossom in March as the rains are tapering off, but weather is still cool. I don't think cherry trees would adapt well to the climate here. I think the trees here with the bright yellow blossoms are just as lovely, and they obviously thrive here, as does the beautiful jacaranda.

It would be a costly mistake to invest in all those cherry trees that might end up dead.

[rijb]

http://uberhumor.com/river-filled-with-cherry-blosom-petals

At least someone is trying to improve the place.

You critics are no better than the Chinese woman who pooped in the CM klong.

[BudRight]

http://uberhumor.com/river-filled-with-cherry-blosom-petals

At least someone is trying to improve the place.

You critics are no better than the Chinese woman who pooped in the CM klong.

If memory serves, that Chinese woman was trying to improve the smell.

[SOTIRIOS]

....but they objected to Singapore holding Songkran......????

[geoman1976]

Actaully, I am from Washington DC, and it is famous for the Cherry Blossoms and loads of tourists go there when they are in bloom. The tourists come from surrounding areas though. within a couple hours drive so I am not sure how it'll work there but it certainly does in DC. There is now a huge festival based around it called the Cherry Blossom Festival.

I take it all of you nay sayers are tourism experts though...lol...or do you just like to be negative about everything?...lol.

[sceadugenga]

Most of that type of tree, cherries, almonds etc of the flowering or fruiting variety like a cold winter to get things working.

Not months of snow necessarily but a bit of frost now and then.

http://www.weekendnotes.com/willunga-almond-blossom-festival/

I've lived near this area and can assure people that average winter temperatures would be well above freezing point.

[harrry]

I cannot see why we need cherry trees. We have an abundance of beautiful flowring trees in North Thailand that bloom for a much longer time. THey would make an impressive drive to town for a lot more than 2 weeks....

If any one wants to see some really beautiful trees just google northern thailand flowering trees and go to images and be set for a real treat for the eyes.

[Fiddlesticks]

I cannot see why we need cherry trees. We have an abundance of beautiful flowring trees in North Thailand that bloom for a much longer time. THey would make an impressive drive to town for a lot more than 2 weeks....

If any one wants to see some really beautiful trees just google northern thailand flowering trees and go to images and be set for a real treat for the eyes.

I agree that Thailand has some very beautiful flowering trees but there is almost a cult following of Sakura. Cherry blossoms are really beautiful and are favorite subjects of photographers for ages.

That being said, if the brain trust here in CR was really interested in drawing tourists on a more long-term basis, all they would need to do is similar to what Harry is suggesting, and that is to use the natural flowering trees to line city venues with these trees. They could serve a double purpose which would to make for interesting views and to hide the horrible eye sores that are created by the tangles of power lines and shabby businesses that line the streets.

CR doesn't need gimmicks, they need real planning and they need to instill in the locals a sense of pride and a desire to keep their city clean.

[harrry]

I cannot see why we need cherry trees. We have an abundance of beautiful flowring trees in North Thailand that bloom for a much longer time. THey would make an impressive drive to town for a lot more than 2 weeks....

If any one wants to see some really beautiful trees just google northern thailand flowering trees and go to images and be set for a real treat for the eyes.

I agree that Thailand has some very beautiful flowering trees but there is almost a cult following of Sakura. Cherry blossoms are really beautiful and are favorite subjects of photographers for ages.

That being said, if the brain trust here in CR was really interested in drawing tourists on a more long-term basis, all they would need to do is similar to what Harry is suggesting, and that is to use the natural flowering trees to line city venues with these trees. They could serve a double purpose which would to make for interesting views and to hide the horrible eye sores that are created by the tangles of power lines and shabby businesses that line the streets.

CR doesn't need gimmicks, they need real planning and they need to instill in the locals a sense of pride and a desire to keep their city clean.

What have I done......now CR will have local trees plated right in the middle of the footpaths. Where is a wheelchair to go?

[sceadugenga]

I was wondering about how many of our colorful trees are actually native to the region and came across this interesting site.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac775e/ac775e03.htm

[toybits]

I don't know why this needs to be done. I find the Dton Tabaek or Dton Inthanin (Langerstroemia speciosa or L. macrocarpa) to be just as showy. Nice thing about these native flowering trees is that the blooms last a bit longer than the Sakura tree. I saw a Japanese who was awed by a Langerstroemia tree in full bloom. Perhaps, people need to remove the eye-shutters and take a fresh look at native trees in their backyard. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence...

[Patrick Mills]

Just another waste of money, if you want tourist, try cleaning up the pollution, the dirty water, canals, dirty streets, and empty lots full of garbage. Then the tourist will want to come. Do it for the people who live here, and remove the eye sores for the tourist. Do you think you can? or is this just to much to ask?

[Xmas]

I think it is a fine idea to add some colour along the main roads.

I would also like to see the Council pay some attention to cleaning up the garbage littering some of the areas along the river, particularly that area near the Dusit Island.

[Xmas]

I think it is great to add some colour along the main roads.

I would also like to see the Council make an effort to clean up some of the garbage in existing nice areas, particularly along the river near the Dusit Island.

[belg]

ah, another brilliant idea with someone elses money... how will those poor trees survice the torrent rains , the blasting heat and the dry season ?