The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, known as the Rose of the North, is beginning to attract more Singaporean visitors, thanks to new flights…
The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, known as the Rose of the North, is beginning to attract more Singaporean visitors, thanks to new flights directly connecting the two ASEAN cities.
In the first 5 months of 2005, direct visitor arrivals from Singapore to Chiang Mai International Airport totalled 9,556, up 71.01% over the same period of 2004.
Tiger Airways, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, inaugurated its first Singapore-Chiang Mai route service on February 18, 2005, adding to the thrice-weekly direct flights being operated by Silk Air, also a Singapore Airlines subsidiary.
In August 2005, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organised a major roadshow in Singapore to attract Singaporeans as well as the large number of expatriates residing there.
TAT is promoting Chiang Mai as a cultural destination, health and wellness city, city of unique handicrafts, and gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion countries.
TAT Governor Mrs Juthamas Siriwan said, The direct flights are increasing travel to Chiang Mai. They will also help open up other destinations in north Thailand, such as the exotic provinces of Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Lampang, as well as our neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Lao P.D.R.
She said the new flights fit in very well with TAT`s cluster development policy, which involves promoting tourism to areas around the popular tourist destinations in order to prevent congestion there, while distributing visitors to new areas they may not have previously seen.
Over the past few years, the Royal Thai Government has poured billions of baht worth of investment to upgrade Chiang Mai`s infrastructure and tourism products to accelerate its transformation into a regional transportation hub for the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The TAT Singapore office is working with local travel agents as well as with THAI Airways International and the Singaporean carriers to promote special packages to Chiang Mai.
Silk Air has informed TAT that its sales of special-price packages covering Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son have grown by 25% above the projected figure.
Chiang Mai is also getting good press in Singapore, becoming known as the hometown of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. New destinations like the Night Safari and the increasing number of deluxe hotels opening there are also attracting visitors.
Mrs Juthamas, Singaporean visitors who appreciate the good weather and beautiful natural attractions in Chiang Mai are helping to spread the word to their relatives and friends.
She said the destination is also being actively marketed to Singaporean honeymooners, women travellers and families. There is plenty for everyone to do, Mrs Juthamas noted, citing the many excellent spas and wellness centres, botanical gardens and hilltribe villages in the hinterland.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
