Smog-hit Chiang Mai still a draw, says TAT

[webfact]

Smog-hit Chiang Mai still a draw, says TAT
Standley Bennett
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- PEOPLE working outdoors such as tuk tuk and songtaew drivers in Chiang Mai province say the haze hovering over the North has affected their daily life.

"The smog affects visibility and my eyes and nose get irritated, so I have to wear a facemask while working," tuk tuk driver Artsanai Chaisuwan said yesterday, adding that the number of tourists in the area seemed to be lower.

"I hope they will visit Chiang Mai by Songkran," he said.

The smog situation yesterday improved and only three provinces experienced high levels of particulate matter with a maximum diameter of 10 microns, considered unsafe.

According to the Pollution Control Department, Mae Hong Son had 227 micrograms per cubic metre, Chiang Rai had 168 and Chiang Mai 148.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chiang Mai office director, Wisut Buachum, said the smog had had little effect on Chiang Mai tourism.

Many pre-booked tourists knew about the smog but still visited, he said.

Wisut said only a handful of tour groups had cancelled visits and hotels had not experienced a drop in room reservations.

He said the situation should improve soon.

In related news, a bio-mass landfill at Chiang Mai University caught fire on Wednesday night but was put out within two hours. The cause of fire is being investigated.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Smog-hit-Chiang-Mai-still-a-draw-says-TAT-30255925.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-13

[DiamondKing]

They are dreaming its DEAD in Chiang mai very few people out at night

[sawati]

Coups hit Thailand still a draw

Carnage in the streets of Bangkok still a draw

The temples are closed still a draw

TAT "authorised" travel offices scaming still a draw

Batlant double pricing still a draw

Taxis scaming you at the airport still a draw

Speed boat mafia still a draw

Etc etc etc

Everybody is drawing

[NickJ]

Thats what they say about all the garbage on the beachs.....I guess there are a lot of people who enjoy smog and garbage.

[Chicog]

Wisut is too stupid to realise that people have generally stopped going there at this time of year so there are few bookings to cancel.

Or of course he could be lying through his teeth.

Or possibly both.

[harada]

According to my wife the hospitals are a big draw for people suffering from pollution related problems especially hill tribe people.

[Sparkles]

TAT are living ,as usual, in dreamland.I personally know 2 families who have cancelled bookings and decided to stay down south of HH rather than visit CM (on my recommendation I mean to you really want to expose friends to this pollution)

The vast majority of people suffering are obviously Thai and they are so passive .In most countries the Gov offices would be surrounded by people demanding action.

mai phen rai in full flow ,wait for the rain to come.

[terminatorchiangmai]

Funny that tuk tuk and songteaw drivers dare to complain.

Most of them make smog all year round,

[khwaibah]

Medical supply companies are running low on oxygen tanks.

[Lupatria]

The new slogan under the old management is:

Visit Chiang Mai where the new breed of happy people is laughing coughing all day long.

[rebelplatoon]

LONG ago a study revealed that the main reason people set fire to the forests is that Hed Hob (A kind of Thai Truffle) only grow on burnt soil. Wouldn't it be easy to stop this if some agricultural university, anywhere, would find a way of cultivating them?

[Tywais]

Message for U.S. Citizens: Air Quality in Northern Thailand

During this season when region-wide agricultural burning causes poor air quality, and poses a health threat, the Consulate wants to remind U.S. citizens to be aware of the local Air Quality Index (AQI) and take appropriate measures to minimize the impact on your health. The Thai government’s Pollution Control Department calculates the AQI daily and posts measurements online at http://www.pcd.go.th/. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the AQI on its website at http://airnow.gov. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends what to do during periods of poor air quality at http://cdc.gov.

For more localized reports, see the Air Quality Guide at http://www.aqmthai.com/. Click on the British flag to see the website in English. Then click Air Quality Index and select a location from the drop down menu. By clicking Report, and selecting that same location, the graph or table will show results listed hourly.

[Lobin]

Really??

http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2015/03/grey-shroud-covers-north-thailand/

[NongKhaiKid]

You must visit CM, the atmosphere will leave you choked.

[Jonmarleesco]

'The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chiang Mai office director, Wisut Buachum, said the smog had had little effect on Chiang Mai tourism.' Why do I get the distinct feeling he's BS ...ing?

[maidee]

i guess if you prepaid / booked your visit with no refund, you might eventually go

for the well informed: tired of your healthy life ?

[northernphil]

The new slogan under the old management is:

Visit Chiang Mai where the new breed of happy people is laughing coughing all day long.

Yep , come North and visit the land of smells , except you might pass right through in the smog.

[Rob8891]

TAT don't know SQUAT.

Anyway....in related news today there was a breeze that carried away much of Chiang Mai's smog......tomorrow it will bring someone else's smog to our beloved city.

[Chicken George]

I left the north 2 weeks ago after having difficulty breathing. No sign of real heavy rain to clear smog or put out the fires or stop the burning for at least a month. TAT in cuckoo land as usual

[mikiea]

tat = thainess at its best?

[khwaibah]

Except for the sea side the complete country is smoked in, CNX because of its geographical location as usual getting the worst.

[vivid]

Except for the sea side the complete country is smoked in, CNX because of its geographical location as usual getting the worst.

It's really no joke for Mae Hong Son, close to Myanmar.

PM10 = 564ug/m3 and PM2.5 should at the very least be 480, 490ug/m3, possibly hitting 500 ug/m3 as well, from what I can see at Chiang Mai 36t the relationship between PM10 and PM2.5 figures.

If this were to happen here in my country, it'd mean a 3-hr PSI of 500, very hazardous.

[Chicog]

If this were to happen here in my country, it'd mean a 3-hr PSI of 500, very hazardous.

In my country, people would be going to court and getting punished for it.

[FolkGuitar]

If the reporting site (http://aqicn.org/city/chiang-mai/ ) can be trusted, during the past 8 days, six days had considerably lower particulate counts this year than last year. Right now the site is reporting 87ppm. On this day at this time last year it was reporting 131ppm.

Let's hope the trend continues.

Edited March 14, 2015 by FolkGuitar

[Stargeezr]

Is this not almost a yearly thing that happens in the northern part of Thailand?

I guess that is why I have not plans to go to that part of Thailand for my

retirement vacation. I am more likely to be in Bangkok or south toward Phuket.

I guess I am just getting old and a bit surely, so I spend my holiday dollars,

where my lungs do not get too full of pollution.

Chok Dee to all the people who have to suffer from this pollution, I hope the weather pattern changes for you

and the air clears soon!

[FrankOff]

The wife said she heard of 50% hotel cancellations...but apparently re-booked for future dates ...??

[crusader79]

New TAT campaign:

CHIANG MAI: IT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY

(Similar slogan actually launched by the Hong Kong Tourist Board just before SARS hit)