Haze does not cloud Chiang Mai tourism outlook

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Haze does not cloud Chiang Mai tourism outlook



CHIANG MAI: -- Hazardous fire haze now blanketing several northern provinces does not cloud tourism outlook of Chiang Mai and other northern cities with hotel bookings now over 90% for the upcoming Songkran festival next month.

The tourism sector remains optimistic on tourist arrivals, seeing the current fire haze as a short lived phenomenon that happened every year during this low season period.

Chiang Mai Tourism Industry Association Pornchai Chitanawasatien said there was nothing to worry about in term of tourism in the province.

He said the haze was short term and happened during this hot season which was a low season for tourists.

He said tourists visiting Chiang Mai for three days could either encounter haze 1-2 days or might not see any haze at all.

But he said the haze would soon disappear and tourism boom will be back again during the upcoming Songkran festival.

He said now hotel rooms in Chiang Mai were over 90% booked for the water festival period.

Half of the bookings were from foreign tourists, he said.

This indicated Chiang Mai is still attractive for visits by foreign tourists, he said.

But he said the tourism industry entrepreneurs would like the government coming out with sustainable solution to the problem.

The problem should be addressed as a national agenda and all government agencies and the private sector must be drawn in to jointly solve it, he said.

Meanwhile Chiang Mai Guide Association Somrit Haikam said that the haze problem has been continuing for the past two weeks but is not affecting the tourism business in the province, as entrepreneurs have been preparing for the situation and warning tourists before hand of the haze.

Moreover, the current period is a low tourist season, meaning, the rate of hotel bookings have been declining since the beginning of the year, which coincides with what happened last year at the same period.

Most tourists visiting Thailand’s northern region during this time of year, March and April, usually know that the region would be hit by the haze, he added.

One American who has been living in Chiang Mai for two years said he would wear face mask when a thick haze is covering the area, noting that he is not worried about the haze, as the situation would only be temporary and would be gone in a short span of time.

“Haze happens every year. I have seen worse. Today, not so bad,” he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/haze-does-not-cloud-chiang-mai-tourism-outlook


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-20

[Thailand]

[kotsak]

Chinese tourists will feel like at home..That's great Luckily they have those screens to remind them how a clear sky looks like...

Edited March 20, 2015 by kotsak

[craigt3365]

Seems some are avoiding the area:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9175667/Thailand-pollution-puts-Chiang-Mai-off-the-tourist-trail.html

Some tour operators and trekking companies are telling visitors to steer clear until air quality improves. Mark Ord, who has lived in Chiang Mai for 12 years and runs All Points East, which organises treks in the region, said: "I've never seen it this bad and have even been advising visitors to stay away. Remember, you are dealing with a government whose health minister recently tried to blame the rise in dengue fever on 'women wearing hot pants'."

Until Thailand and its neighbours get to grips with the problem, much of this part of the country could be off limits to travellers every spring.

[Bung]

Well, thats a relief! I was beginning to worry all this pollution was a problem but obviously not! It is only short lived phenomenon that occurs in the lowest of the low season, all the tourists will be here soon throwing klong water into each others faces, the hotels will be full and all is good in the world. No problem here!

[alant]

what, well my wife had guests up and leave due to the smoke. Everyone will hope there is rain before Songkran.

[terminatorchiangmai]

Must be TAT talking here.

Lets see next month how everybody will complain again about the tourist ( chinese ) using all the water and are drinking alcohol before 5pm.

Edited March 20, 2015 by terminatorchiangmai

[thhMan]

My eyes are still burning...
Just looked out the window and its still there... Im looking forward to it disappearing soon

Some people must fantastic willpower to disregard the smog...

[oneday]

Haze does not cloud Chiang Mai tourism outlook

That's too bad. Maybe if it was affecting tourism (or is it and that headline is a little white lie told to the reporter), well if it was affecting tourism then maybe the government would take notice and try to do something about it. Sure there's lot of talk, a news report of the government sparing one plane to go up and spray water, a show of fire engines spraying water in the air and even talk of Myanmar and Thailand cooperating, but each year it gets worse and worse. Someday they might get real serious about it...LIKE GETTING AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FIRES!

Edited March 20, 2015 by oneday

[Chicken George]

Probably won't clear till middle ofJune this year as no real rain due till then. Hopefully it will clear before then..

[ToddinChonburi]

Well enjoy the chinese, hope they don't break anything. I wonder how they will react to a truck driving by and hosing them down ? Hope there camera's are water proof.

[angiolo]

Ok let me clear my thinking..Thailand is now the HUB of greenhouse smoke production. Oh yes yet another hub to be proud of.

So sea levels will rise . Bangkok is close to sea level, right ? So soon we will have VENICE in Thailand. Great for tourism . Brilliant TAT for being ahead of us .

Have I got this wrong ?

[Horton Jones]

I realize this Thaivisa report originated with Thai PBS, but I must point out: IT IS NOT "HAZE". It is SMOG, or it is AIR POLLUTION. And while the Prime Minister General and others are calling it dangerous, the Tourism sector is downplaying it,,,, "haze", how utterly ridiculous, shame on them.

[elgordo38]

It is so chilling refreshing to read such an objective opinion piece news report.

Its like every news piece including the newspapers. Tourism is up. Businesses expecting to expand 25 to 40% this year there is no negative news anywhere and I read 2 different newspapers. December 31,2015 will tell the true tale.

[MILT]

[Johnny S]

Haze my a.. They think it will be easier to swallow if they dont use the Word SMOG ... ?

Maybe tourists are gonna come for Songkran but I doubt if they are gonna be returning tourists when they see how bad it really is - Seriously hope the touristindustri will suffer cause of this SMOG

[Johnny S]

Haze my a.. They think it will be easier to swallow if they dont use the Word SMOG ... ?

Maybe tourists are gonna come for Songkran but I doubt if they are gonna be returning tourists when they see how bad it really is - Seriously hope the touristindustri will suffer cause of this SMOG

[T_Dog]

What's up with the noisy water fans at Tapae Gate? You could barely walk through that area today.

[maidee]

thainess should order TAT

to tell the tourists that this is NORMAL

this time of year

[SKguy]

A "haze".....oh really! Would a haze cause thousands of people to seek medical attention in Chiang Mai?

We are wearing face masks inside and outside the house, our eyes are red and very sore, we are coughing up phlegm continuously, many people are having to take antibiotics for chest infections. They darn well need to get out of their airconditioned offices and face reality!

[changsinghleo]

I guess it's a lure to smokers, they get treated to free smoke. Considering the price of cigarettes I can see droves of smokers flocking to Chiang Mai in the future when word gets out about the 'free' smoke!

[Dogbarker]

BUT just think how the low season could be if there was no smog !!!!!!!!

[chainarong]

It is indeed refreshing to see that some tourists might get 1 or 2 days pollution free, just what happens if you get 1 or 2 days with bad air pollution and are asthmatic enjoyable holidays indeed.

[chainarong]

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Haze does not cloud Chiang Mai tourism outlook

That's too bad. Maybe if it was affecting tourism (or is it and that headline is a little white lie told to the reporter), well if it was affecting tourism then maybe the government would take notice and try to do something about it. Sure there's lot of talk, a news report of the government sparing one plane to go up and spray water, a show of fire engines spraying water in the air alt=cheesy.gif width=32 height=20> and even talk of Myanmar and Thailand cooperating, but each year it gets worse and worse. Someday they might get real serious about it...LIKE GETTING AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FIRES!

The root cause of the problem won't listen, they live in yesteryear technology, this practice of burning off has been going on since rice was planted and it is not necessary but you try and tell those old rice farmers that, that's where the problem is and every ASEAN country is the same.