Floral expo to be a honey pot
Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 is likely to add as much as Bt23 billion in cash to Chiang Mai's tourism industry during its three-month run from now to January, says the Kasikorn Research Centre, the research arm of Kasikornbank.
The centre predicts 3 million tourists, both domestic and international, will attend the expo, an increase of more than 130 per cent over the city's tourist numbers in same period last year. Of these, 2.2 million will be domestic travellers.With estimated spending of Bt23 billion, about 65 per cent is expected to come from Thai tourists and the rest from foreign tourists. The centre predicts about 30 per cent of the Bt23 billion will be spent on souvenirs, mostly traditional Thai hand-made products. About 22 per cent will be spent on accommodation, including hotels, resorts and guest-houses. In Chiang Mai, there are more than 270 accommodation facilities for a total of 17,000 rooms. The centre also forecasts that hotel occupancy in Chiang Mai should not fall below 80 per cent over the next three months. In addition, the centre said other types of accommodation could serve excess tourist arrivals in Chiang Mai, such as serviced apartments, leased houses, dormitories, temples and tents. Fifteen per cent, or Bt3.5 billion, is expected to be spent on restaurants and 11 per cent on entertainment, including clubs, spas, cultural performances and outdoor sports activities. Another 9 per cent will be spent on travel agents and 13 per cent on rental vehicles.
|
