Chiang Mai flower festival blooms success with record visitors
Chiang Mai is basking in the success of its 47th Flower Festival, which attracted a staggering 668,000 visitors, both Thai and international, generating over 80 million baht (US$2.25 million) in revenue.
As a result, the province is preparing to enhance the event’s float parade, focusing on innovation and interest for future festivals.
On March 8, the deputy governor of Chiang Mai, Veerapong Ritrod, presided over a meeting with the Flower Festival’s organising committee, government sectors, and related agencies to review the outcomes and lessons learned from the recently concluded event.
The festival, held from February 2-4, under the theme Lanna’s Floral Splendour, aimed to prepare for a more effective and elevated future event.
The festival, taking place at Nong Buak Hard Public Park and featuring a parade of floral floats at Nawarat Bridge, was a significant draw.
Tourist figures at the park reached 668,000 visitors, with direct spending within the venue exceeding 80.2 million baht. This was a notable increase from the previous year, which saw 618,065 attendees and 74 million baht (US$2 million) spent.
Chiang Mai University is set to report on the overall tourism revenue, encompassing travel, accommodation, services, and other expenditures.
A primary issue identified in this year’s festival was the similarity in design and decoration among the floral floats, which were categorised into three competition types: beauty, cultural preservation, and creativity.
The organising committee will reconsider the contest’s structure and rules to ensure distinctiveness and suitability for each award category in future events.
Educational institutions may be invited to participate in designing innovative and unique floats to elevate the festival’s appeal and attract more tourists.
The 48th edition of the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is scheduled for February 1-2 next year. The organizing committee will consider extending the event’s duration and will promote it earlier to allow people to plan their travels, reported KhaoSod.
