Tourists numbers to return to pre-covid in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, the picturesque northern Thai capital, last year witnessed a jaw-dropping 30% plunge in tourism, with a mere 3.9 million visitors gracing its vibrant landscapes last year, in stark contrast to the 5.6 million footfalls pre-Covid in 2019.

This startling data, unveiled by social enterprise Visit Chiang Mai, paints a gloomy picture for the once-thriving tourist hotspot.

A closer look at the statistics reveals a particularly severe blow to Chinese tourism, with a paltry 200,982 visitors treading the charming streets of Chiang Mai, a dramatic downturn from the robust 878,984 in 2019. The chairman for city marketing promotion and development at Visit Chiang Mai, Vorapong Muchaotai, attributes this plunge to both a reduction in direct flights from China to Chiang Mai and the economic slowdown in China.

Despite the forthcoming visa waiver agreement, set to kick in on March 1, Vorapong remains sceptical about a swift revival of Chinese interest in Thai travel.

“This measure is more likely to attract Thai tourists to visit China rather than draw Chinese tourists to Thailand.”

Yet, amidst the gloom, rays of hope pierce through the dark clouds. The resilience of Chiang Mai’s tourism sector becomes evident in the surge of visitors from South Korea and Taiwan. Last year, 191,167 Koreans flocked to Chiang Mai, marking a 34% increase from the pre-pandemic figures of 2019. This upward trend is expected to continue, particularly among avid golfers.

Taiwan, too, made a commendable contribution, as 80,565 Taiwanese tourists explored the province last year, matching the 2019 numbers. Anticipating an upswing, experts predict a substantial increase to 100,000 Taiwanese tourists this year, propelled by the surge in direct flights from Taipei, reported The Nation.

Bid to attract more tourists

In a bid to restore the tourism heartbeat, 21 airlines orchestrated direct flights to Chiang Mai last year. Korean Airlines led the charge with a remarkable 76,623 tourists, closely followed by EVA Air (58,267) and Jeju Air (56,316).

Panlop Saejiw, vice chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, lauded the permanent free visa scheme, interpreting it as a testament to China’s confidence in Thai tourists and the robust relationship between the two nations. While optimistic about an influx of Thai tourists to China under this scheme, Panlop stresses the need for a collective effort to entice more Chinese visitors to Thailand. The Tourism Council vice chairman highlighted the imperative of collaborative strategies to rejuvenate Chiang Mai’s waning allure on the international tourism stage.

“All parties have to brainstorm on attracting more Chinese visitors.”