Chiang Mai’s air quality is one of the worst in the world, affecting hotel bookings during Songkran.

Chiang Mai, The forest fire situation in Chiang Mai is still serious. This morning, pollution levels in Chiang Dao District reached 820 micrograms/cubic meter. Air quality is consistently ranked #1 in the world. This has affected the number of hotel room reservations during Songkran. The Chiang Mai sky is still covered in smog from forest fires. Both from illegal forest burning and smog floating across the border. As of yesterday (April 2), Chiang Mai had as many as 560 forest fires, with Chiang Dao District the most at 114 spots, followed by Samoeng District with 77 spots and Chai Prakan District with 50 spots. As for this morning, Chiang Mai found 411 hot spots, Chiang Dao District had the most with 83 hot spots, followed by Mae Taeng District with 57 hot spots and Samoeng District with 48 hot spots. Climate Change Information Center Chiang Mai University reported PM2.5 values ??at 7:00 a.m. in the Ban Pang Mayao Health Promotion Hospital area, Chiang Dao District, at 820 micrograms per cubic meter, or 2 1 times higher than the standard value. As for the Mueang Chiang Mai District area at the Faculty of Social Sciences Chiang Mai University is at 254 micrograms per cubic meter. while in the Night Bazaar area it was 218 micrograms/cubic meter. It is at a level that has an impact on health. As for the IQ Air website Also ranked for Chiang Mai Province It is a large city with consistently ranked #1 worst air quality in the world. The Air Quality Index or AQI at 11:00 a.m. was at 207, in the purple level. People are reminded to wear N95 masks if they are outside. The smog situation is also affecting tourism, said Mr. Paisan Sukcharoen, president of the Northern Thai Hotels Association. Revealing the rate of hotel room reservations in Chiang Mai province During the upcoming Songkran festival that Between 12 and 27 April 2024, approximately 20,000 rooms were reserved by tourists from a total of nearly 60,000 rooms in the system, with up to 70 percent bookings for 5-star hotels, most of which were tourists from Eu rope. Part of the reason that the number of room reservations is decreasing Probably from wildfire smoke. While in a hotel room during the Songkran festival Right now it's still only 60 percent, which has never been like this before. But it is believed that during the period 8-10 April 2024, Thai people will likely make more reservations. The government and all sectors are stimulating and promoting tourism during the Songkran festival in all regions. I believe tourists will come back. This makes the occupancy rate as high as 90 percent. In the hotel itself, water spray is installed. increase humidity Along the eaves of the hotel building And the rooms also have air purifiers. However, at this time, foreign tourists are arriving through Chiang Mai Airport, approximately 3,000 people per day, together with Thai people, approximately more than 20,000 people per day, in March of this past. Chiang Mai has more than 20,000 million baht in revenue from tourism. Source: Thai News Agency