Chiang Mai hotels urged to open for tourist surge
Chiang Mai tourism authorities are concerned that many hotels and tour agencies remain closed as the province prepares for a surge of tourists from the government’s travel-stimulus scheme.
Punlop Sae-Jew, who chairs the local Tourism Council of Thailand branch, said Chiang Mai has shown little interest in opening to tourism because this time is traditionally regarded as the low season.
Responding to complaints from hotel operators that it was not worth reopening with occupancy rates below 12 per cent, Punlop pointed out that by opening hotels operators would at least gain some revenue.
Meanwhile of the approximately 1,000 tour agencies in the province, 80 per cent remained closed while 20 per cent were focusing on running their business via online channels, he added.
Since late March, Chiang Mai has lost at least Bt30 billion in tourism revenue. Visitors normally generate at least Bt70 billion for the province between January and July.
However, Chiang Mai expects to receive at least Bt100 billion from visitors within this third quarter thanks to government subsidies for domestic tourists. Punlop said his branch aimed to collaborate with airlines to attract more people from other regions to Chiang Mai. Local accommodation and restaurant operators had prepared packages to lure domestic tourists with strict Covid-19 control measures, he added.