Chaiyaphum income blossoming

Manit Phetlam, chief of the national park in Thep Sathit district, said the beneficiaries were mainly souvenir shops, restaurants and villagers offering home-stays.

"It's extraordinary that so many flowers blossomed this year. Coupled with the incessant rain, the fields are covered by thick fog, creating an extraordinary scene for tourists," Manit said.

However, he said national park officials were left to deal with huge amounts of garbage. Most tourists brought food and drink with them and often dropped the waste under trees or stuffed it under rocks, despite the fact that a truck was dispatched to collect trash every half an hour.

He hopes tourists will learn to use the dustbins provided and preserve the beautiful scenery. The blooms are expected to last until next month.