The two waves of severe flooding in late September and the beginning of October 2024 have had a profound impact on the tourism industry in Chiang Mai. Over 10 days of the floods, more than 2.28 billion baht was lost due to the downturn in tourists visiting the city.
To reinvigorate tourism for the upcoming high season, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is launching a new project titled, “Travel to the North at Half Price” (Aew Nua Khon La Krung) in which 400 baht will be offered per trip to 10,000 visitors. The deal will be available at various participating hotels, restaurants, cafes, and tourist attractions throughout all 17 northern provinces through the TAT app.
Pallop Saejiew, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Council, said that 400 baht is a small amount compared to the daily average expenses of Thai tourists. On average, Thais who visit Chiang Mai will spend around 2,000 baht per day or around 5,000 baht per person per trip.
“I expect that there will be more campaigns to stimulate tourism,” he added.