Thread: Tourists unfazed by air pollution in Chiang Mai, hotels 70% booked

Hotels rooms in Chiang Mai are currently about 70% booked, many of them by foreign tourists, despite the worsening PM2.5 problem, according to Patsin Sawetrat, director of the Tourism Authority Authority’s Chiang Mai office.


While admitting that the smoke from forest fires may affect tourism, she said that it occurs during the dry season every year and she expects increased hotel occupancy during the Songkran festival, from April 12 to April 16.


Expected revenue from tourism during Songkran in Chiang Mai is estimated at about 1.2 billion baht, she said, adding that the TAT office has performed a “sacred” water ceremony at nine temples to bless the city and its people.


The “sacred” water will fill 17,728 bottles, to be distributed to people in the city as an auspicious item. A similar ceremony has been held in the province for the last four years.


Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan called an urgent meeting of a high-level committee to address the PM2.5 problem in Chiang Mai after the regular cabinet meeting today.


In Chiang Mai, Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn ordered all local administrative organisations to make available at least three clean air rooms at each organisation. Similar facilities will be made available in all hospitals.


He said that health officials have been told to give special attention to more than 400,000 people regarded as “fragile” and at high risk from PM2.5 pollution.


These include more than 100,000 children under five, over 3,000 pregnant women, over 6,000 bed-ridden patients, more than 4,000 patients with asthma, about 250,000 disabled and elderly people and about 1,600 people with heart disease.


People have been advised to wear face masks when they are outdoors and stay indoors as much as possible until Thursday.

Tourists unfazed by air pollution in Chiang Mai, hotels 70% booked | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Chiang Mai records world’s most polluted air today; staying indoors advised

Chiang Mai again ranks as the city with the worst air pollution in the world again today, as the provincial administration urges the public and private sectors to allow their staff to work from home and tourists to avoid outdoor sight-seeing or other activities until Thursday, due to high levels of PM2.5 in the atmosphere.


Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn said, today, that the announcement is necessary for the health of tourists and locals alike, noting that there is still a communication gap between the authorities and the public regarding the PM2.5 problem caused by forest fires.


He said that officials have tried all necessary means to prevent forest fires, including rewards being offered for the arrest of arsonists, but they continue unabated. He disclosed that, some days, more than 500 hotspots are detected and, since the beginning of April, over 6,000 hotspots were detected in Thailand’s neighbouring countries.


Fang and Prao districts of Chiang Mai were declared public disaster zones last Thursday, due to the worsening smoke problem from raging forest fires.


From last Thursday until today, PM2.5 levels have been between 84.1µg/m³-224.3µg/m³ throughout the day and night and these levels are considered a threat to health. For public safety, the governor said that all government agencies in the province have been instructed to adopt work from home measures for staff not dealing directly with the public and to use tele conferencing for meetings.


Restaurants and other entertainment venues are advised to arrange for air-conditioned rooms for customers.


All outdoor activities in public parks are suspended from today until Thursday, as members of the public are advised to wear face mask every time they go outdoors.


According to the AQI readings at 7am today, Chiang Mai had the worst air quality, at 194 , followed by Kathmandu in Nepal at 193, New Delhi, 186, Lahore in Pakistan, 183, Dakar in Senegal, 166, Kuwait City, 166, Yangon in Myanmar, 164, Dhaka in Bangladesh, 159; Shanghai, 152 and Kuala Lumpur,146.


For most of the northern region today, PM2.5 readings exceed the 37.5µg/m³ threshold level, ranging from 35µg/m³-192.7µg/m³. PM2.5 in 18 areas have reached the red level today.


The situation in the north-eastern region is as bad, with PM2.5 levels, ranging from 30.5µg/m³ to 83.8µg/m³. Only four areas in the central and western regions have excessive PM2.5, while air quality in the southern and eastern regions is considered as good.


Air quality in and around Bangkok is regarded as very good, with the levels of PM2.5 measured at 9.1µg/m³ to 24.9µg/m³, below the 37.5µg/m³ threshold.

Chiang Mai records world's most polluted air today; staying indoors advised | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

It was 42 degrees here yesterday. Double reason not to venture outdoors.

Rain sorely needed!

There are going to be some rather wet hotels around.