The floodwaters have caused significant damage to the city’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings. The local government has declared a state of emergency, and rescue operations are underway. The flood has also disrupted the local economy, with many businesses forced to close temporarily. The agricultural sector, which is a significant part of Chiang Mai’s economy, has been particularly hard hit.
The road connecting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai was also disrupted, while some hotels reported booking cancellations as tourists delayed their trips. Mr Punlop said that if there are no new storms forecast, the situation should gradually ease. However, with a series of floods persisting in northern Thailand since the beginning of September, particularly in Chiang Rai, he said it has dented tourism sentiment for Chiang Mai this month. “Chiang Mai and neighbouring provinces are often sold as a cluster, meaning tourists usually visit a few provinces during a trip. The flooding results in lower tourism confidence,” said Mr Punlop.
The tourism industry is still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many businesses struggling to regain their pre-pandemic levels of operation. Despite these challenges, there are signs of resilience and potential for growth in the Chiang Mai tourism sector. The city’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and diverse range of attractions continue to draw visitors, both domestic and international. To capitalize on this potential, local authorities and tourism operators are implementing strategies to attract more tourists and boost the industry.
The airline’s load factor dropped to 50% in September, the lowest in the past two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The load factor measures the percentage of available seats that are filled with passengers. The decline in the load factor reflects the significant decrease in passenger traffic, as tourists avoided traveling to Chiang Rai. In response to this challenging situation, Wutthiphum Jurangkool, the chief executive of Nok Air, has proposed a solution to revive the airline’s operations and stimulate the domestic market.
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