Smoke hanging over northern tourist trade
The smoke affecting much of the North is likely to hit tourism during next month's Songkran holiday, says the Chiang Mai Tourism Association.
Secretary Vorapong Muchaotai said the average hotel occupancy rate next month in Chiang Mai is expected to be 50-55 per cent, down from 80 per cent last year. "The average occupancy rate now is only 40 per cent, compared with nearly 75 per cent at this same time last year," said Vorapong. Thai and foreign tourists are more likely to head for the beaches and islands or other holiday destinations rather than Chiang Mai, he said. The association said Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son would probably be the most affected. Chiang Mai hotels were operating with an average occupancy of 50-60 per cent, but this increased dramatically during the Royal Flora Expo earlier this year. The influx prompted hotel operators to hike their room rates. "With a total of 25,000 rooms in Chiang Mai, we expected room rates to fall back to what they were prior to the expo," said Vorapong. Association of Domestic Travel president Charoen Wangananont said the smoke from burning fires had not hit tourism as badly as it might have, because it was now the low season. He added that more tourists were heading to the beach instead of the scenic North. All Thai Airways International (THAI) flights to Mae Hong Son were cancelled yesterday, because a thick pall of smoke from the fires continued to blanket the area. Wisoot Buachoom, head of a local travel agency, said Mae Hong Son had been covered by thick smoke for several days. The lack of visibility has made it difficult for aircraft to land there. "THAI has decided to suspend all flights to Mae Hong Son. Due to the smoke and flight cancellations, the loss of tourism revenues is probably in the region of Bt500,000 per day," Wisoot said. Meanwhile, Thada Satta, head of Mae Hong Son's Weather Bureau, said the smoke was limiting visibility to 500-700 metres. He said, however, rain and strong winds were expected in the area by Friday, which should help improve the situation. On Monday, PB Air also cancelled its two flights between Bangkok and Nan, while Nok Air cancelled its Bangkok-Chiang Mai return flight. Nok Air also had no Bangkok service from Mae Hong Son Airport for the second day, but there was one flight to Chiang Mai from that airport.
Suchat Sritama
The Nation
|
