The high levels of pollution in Chiang Mai, a northern city in Thailand, and surrounding provinces have caused concern among locals and led to a decrease in tourist visits. The Thai government has advised residents to avoid outdoor activities due to the poor air quality. Chiang Mai, a popular tourist destination, received 10.8 million visitors in 2019, but hotel bookings have dropped to 45% occupancy.
The situation is far from the expected 80% to 90% occupancy ahead of the Songkran holiday. The city has topped the air quality information platform IQAir’s global chart on poor air quality for several weeks. The high levels of pollution have been attributed to forest fires and crop burning in Thailand and neighboring countries.
The health ministry in Thailand has urged the public to wear masks that can filter particles and avoid outdoor activities. The air quality index (AQI) in Chiang Mai reached 289 in March, which is 19 times over the World Health Organization’s recommended level. Although the AQI has decreased to 171, it is still high. Residents are concerned about allergies and even cancer due to the worsening air quality.
The Mexican visitor, Fernanda Gonzalez, said that she could feel the dust in her face and that it was very dirty. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has coordinated with Laos and Myanmar to reduce hot spots in the border area to curb transboundary haze. The situation in Chiang Mai is worsening year by year, causing concern among the residents.