Tourism spared impact from Chiang Mai air quality

[webfact]

Tourism spared impact from Chiang Mai air quality
The Nation


Fire trucks spray water into the air at Chiang Mai yesterday as part of an ongoing mission to reduce the amount of dust particles in the environment. Air pollution is a problem in 10 northern provinces.

CHIANG MAI: -- EVEN as tiny dust particles severely hit air quality in the upper northern region yesterday, affecting the health of many local residents, the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) affirmed that the smog situation would not impact overall tourism because of region's current "off season".

However, the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association (CMTBA) has projected a loss of Bt2 billion in tourism income.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency reported that as of March 1-8 a total of 142 million rai in 10 northern provinces was covered by haze. Mae Hong Son province yesterday reported the highest amount of particulate matter at 288 micrograms per cubic metre as of 1pm, while Chiang Mai's air station near Yupparat Wittayalai School reported 220mcg per cu/m, lower than Tuesday's 253mcg per cu/m.

TEATA president Sumitra Mutturanont said the northern smog has not dealt a big blow to tourism because of the region's current low season. However, the situation could bother local people and also disturb land and air traffic.

"If this happens in the peak season, many tourists would be impacted and even traffic maybe in chaos," said Sumitra. Travel operators are closely watching the situation and preparing alternative solutions if the situation worsens. "This is a recurring problem at this time of the year hence operators are not too worried," she added.

CMTBA president Pornchai Jitnavasathien said about 50 per cent of tourists had cancelled or postponed their visits to Chiang Mai, leading to a loss of Bt2 billion in projected income. This again comes as no surprise because tour operators had warned tourists in advance about the seasonal haze, he said. The situation should return to normal ahead of the Songkran festival in April because summer storms would clean up the haze, he added.

"It is expected that more tourists would come afterwards because Chiang Mai has opened many aviation routes to other countries," he said, adding that the impact on business income was still secondary to the affect on people's health. He urged related agencies to swiftly solve the problem and to notify the public to protect themselves.

Mae Hong Son public health official Dr Thostathep Bunthong said though the province was "most severely hit" yesterday, the number of air pollution-related sickness wasn't rising sharply. "Most people came to hospital for eye irritation or bronchitis but there is no significant rise in patient numbers in comparison with the rest of the year," he said. People have been told to avoid outdoor activity and use facemasks to protect themselves from the hazardous smog, he added.

Village Health Volunteers have been told to inform people about preventive measures during the peak air pollution period. People also have been advised not to burn their fields, which is now forbidden, as it aggravates the smog situation. The volunteers also have a responsibility to inform authorities if they find someone burning fields, he added.

Dr Rungsrit Kanjanavanit, a cardiologist at Chiang Mai University's Maharaj Hospital, painted a contrasting picture, saying the Maharaj Hospital was overcrowded with patients due to the "serious air pollution". He said he was very concerned about the heath of residents and tourists and wanted the Tourism Authority of Thailand and related agencies to warn tourists to avoid trips to Chiang Mai until the situation improves. He was also worried that facemasks might not be effective enough in filtering the air. "The particulate matter with a maximum diameter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) is so small that the free facemasks cannot filter them," he said, warning that PM2.5 may thicken blood and trigger acute myocardial infarction.

At Chiang Mai City Hall, Army Region 3 commander Lt-General Sathit Pittharat and PM's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul joined nine northern provincial governors at yesterday's meeting to tackle the smog problem. They were told that the smog situation was critical in six provinces and might spread to nearby provinces in late March or early April. The discussed measures included Royal Thai Airforce aircraft spraying water in the air, more rain-making operations, as well as the creation of fire buffer zones in risky areas, including those built by Thai-Myanmar defence units along the border in Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak. As this problem was man-made, public awareness campaigns and people's cooperation were critical, Sathit said, adding strict law enforcement was also necessary.

Panadda said he would also ask agricultural companies to help solve the problem, as they covered many of the contracted farms in the region. He said each province required its local administrative bodies to propose solutions by March 19.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Tourism-spared-impact-from-Chiang-Mai-air-quality-30255837.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-12

[IMA_FARANG]

Tourism spared impact from Chiang Mai air quality

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Sure, but just don't breathe while you are a tourist in Thailand.

[vivid]

That's a lot of fire engines spraying water.

Edited March 12, 2015 by vivid

[petedk]

Seriously, does spraying a little water in the air clean a very area?

[vivid]

Seriously, does spraying a little water in the air clean a very area?

It does clean the immediate area a little. With regards to that picture, perhaps the immediate 1 sq km. But you'd have to do that continuously as long as the levels are very high, and that means for a good half a day, every day.

Edited March 12, 2015 by vivid

[pinkpanther99]

I don't know anything about farming but is the annual burning of crops really necessary?

What would happen if they didn't start the burning?

First thing I thought of when I saw the picture above is what an incredible waste of water. There are large parts of Thailand officially in drought, yet in the north they're spraying water around like it's going out of fashion, all to try and counter a totally man-made problem, which I guess could be totally preventable.

If you live in CM how badly does the smog affect you?

I'd wouldn't visit CM this time of year just because of the smog and to be honest, this whole thing would put me off ever living there.

[Mr Somtam]

If they plough the leftover plants under there would be no air pollution. The soil would get better from the organic matter so less chemicals would be needed.

But again: logic and common sense...

Better to not do anything about the cause and spray gazzilion liters of water into the air, which looks great and has a net effect of appr. 0,00000001 %. But hey look, we are doing something!

[alant]

Well, I am seeing lots of tourists in Chiang Mai but they are mostly Chinese and I may hazard a guess that this level of smoke pollution is not that unusual to them. It is effecting Farangs many of whom have cut visits to the north.

Edited March 12, 2015 by alant

[roo860]

Don't worry about the people who live in CM, they can suffer this outrageous practice!!!!!!

[khwaibah]

They can use this to promote tourism in Thailand.

[Rogergreybeard]

Have another useless meeting

[Johpa]

the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) affirmed that the smog situation would not impact overall tourism because of region's current "off season".

And may I dare ask what might be a one of the causes that this tends to be a "off season" time????

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

tourism spared but not the tourists

[cmsally]

What is the point of this article? What ridiculous journalism. They totally contradicted themselves in just the first 2 paragraphs.

[webfact]

Haze remains a threat to health in Chiang Mai



CHIANG MAI: -- The Armed Forces are now joining local authorities to combat the hazes that are blanketing several northern provinces and are a threat to health.

The Army and the Air Force are sending their aircraft to spray water to lessen the dust density and provide clearer visibility while the Navy also is sending water trucks to spray water.

Meanwhile in Chiang Mai, particulate measurement yesterday showed a drop below 200 microgram/cubic cm, but it is still above acceptable level and a threat to health.

The Pollution Control Department reported that the particulate measurement at Chiang Mai’s Provincial Administration Office showed 189 micrograms/cubic cm.

This was also collaborated by readings taken at the Yupharat Wittiyalai School in central Chiang Mai measuring station which showed figures of 199 micrograms/cubic cm.

These readings are significantly lower than readings taken earlier in the morning but still exceed safe, acceptable levels.

There were also 90 hot-spots reported in the province where burnings are still being clandestinely carried out mostly around the Mae Jam, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng and Omkoi areas.

Many departments have mobilized and are coordinating with other government departments to deploying mobile tankers to spray water into the atmosphere in an attempt to reduce the amount of haze and particulates in the air.

Other provinces like Chiang Rai, Limping, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son also faced the same situation.

The commander of the Third Region Army, Lt Gen Sathit Pittarat ordered firefighting units to mobilise all available equipment to tackle the number of fires which were still burning out of control in the Northern provinces following meetings with nine provincial governors in the north.

The units were equipped with all the necessary firefighting equipment and were tasked to look after fires both at the district and sub-district level.

Furthermore, he has ordered that formal charges be brought against those found to have clandestinely carried out burnings to clear lands for future farming.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/haze-remains-a-threat-to-health-in-chiang-mai


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-12

[Lupatria]

I wonder if the external communication experts of (TEATA) spreading this "news" were formerly employed with TEPCO in Fukoshima

[Gonzo the Face]

What is all this talk of "small dust particles"???? There has been no dust storm or sand storm...... Is not dust, its the smoke particles that are causing the problem. But I guess its too hard to measure a smoke particle.

[Anthony5]

I thought Plodprasop wasn't involved with the current government, or is it that they have many geniuses alike in Thailand?

Edited March 12, 2015 by Anthony5

[clockman]

Why not just drop the water, on the fires? Because somebody has been payed. All Thailand problems could be solved. If they were not totaly corrupt!

[northernphil]

Seriously, does spraying a little water in the air clean a very area?

and are the engines running on the Fire Appliances at the same time and so polluting the air .........oops they never thought of that.

[ronwparker]

I agree with Dr Rungsrit Kanjanavanit-most face masks are a waste of time-people think they are helping but they they are not because the paricles are still getting through.

It is a regional problem-but TAT and others in the tourist business mislead the public.

The correct masks are black and must fit properly-they are very expensive!!!

[ronwparker]

Seriously, does spraying a little water in the air clean a very area?

It does clean the immediate area a little. With regards to that picture, perhaps the immediate 1 sq km. But you'd have to do that continuously as long as the levels are very high, and that means for a good half a day, every day.

But they don't do that.too little too late as usual-they need to educate the rice farmer to plough the field rather than burn it.

[CMFarang]

Same thing has been ongoing for my 20 years here .

I talk to the farmers, and was clearly told " This is my land, I own it, I can burn what I want , no none can stop me "

I even burn small amounts, usually the thorn bushes we get on the farm, but I wait until it is tinder dry , and the fire has little to no smoke and is over very fast.

I can stand in the orchard here and see the smoke plumes of burning fires all around in the distance, I guess that is to high tech for the authorities. ( )

Early morning tests higher than midday, of course, we burn at night so we are no hassled by authorities. ( )

NOTE : a cloud of smoke passing Through my house in the middle of the night and waking to go into the living room and it smells like a fire was inside the house, I just LOVE IT.

[Awk]

Seriously, does spraying a little water in the air clean a very area?

It does clean the immediate area a little. With regards to that picture, perhaps the immediate 1 sq km. But you'd have to do that continuously as long as the levels are very high, and that means for a good half a day, every day.

I've long been curious on whether that helps. Best I could guess would be that it would only help for a very short time, perhaps by the water literally pushing the particles in the air down as the water itself falls down to the ground. You say the helpful effect is not even short time, but only while spraying. I googled before trying to find anything published that explains how this works and what the effect is, but could not find anything.

Might I thus ask from where your knowledge on this has been gained?

[elgordo38]

Tourism spared impact from Chiang Mai air quality

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Sure, but just don't breathe while you are a tourist in Thailand.

What a poor excuse. As long as it does not affect tourism why fix it? Disgusting.

[elgordo38]

Seriously, does spraying a little water in the air clean a very area?

It does clean the immediate area a little. With regards to that picture, perhaps the immediate 1 sq km. But you'd have to do that continuously as long as the levels are very high, and that means for a good half a day, every day.

But they don't do that.too little too late as usual-they need to educate the rice farmer to plough the field rather than burn it.

Ploughing costs money burning does not. If rice prices were higher ploughing might become an option.

[khwaibah]

Its NOT Thailand. TAT can blame it on Myanmar and Cambodia as Thais would not due this.

[angiolo]

Stop burning...problem solved . Too much to ask ?

[Emster23]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. End the fire, end the smoke. Surprised they haven't spun this as some sort of "make the Chinese tourists more comfortable by matching air quality back home". Or.... "the coup was instigated in part to ensure the safety of tourists by making Thailand a less attractive place to visit, hence lowering number of tourists potentially exposed to hazardous air."

[Daniel Ingalls]

The burning of the rice fields does two things. Kills all the harmful bugs that destroys a new tender crop. And also helps keep Vermin (rats)

under control. But the real issue is the Mountain tribes of Myanmar bordering Thailand, they move around in the mountains burning the forest to get at the mushrooms, and then attack any singed pigs suffocating in the smoked ash laden hills.