Tourism in Chiang Mai may be damaged by air pollution

The Northern region of Thailand, especially Chiang Mai, is experiencing a hazardous level of ultra-fine PM2.5 dust particles in the air. This is causing concerns among tourism operators in the city that the situation will negatively impact the industry.

Pallop Saejiew, the president of Chiang Mai’s Tourism Industrial Council, worries about the long-term effects on the province’s tourism industry. Demand has been dropping for outdoor activities and tourist attractions in the inner areas of the province.

However, hotels in the area have yet to issue figures showing a sharp jump in cancellations. The number of tourists arriving and departing from Chiang Mai’s airport is lower than during the past high tourism season when the air was cleaner.

Tourism industry officials worry that this drop…