Wednesday, October 21, 2009

CHIANG MAI BANKING ON LOY KRATHONG

       The Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai should draw at least 30,000 tourists a day and Bt500 million in money circulating over its five-day stretch starting on October 31.
       Chalermsak Suranant, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chiang Mai office, said the economic recovery and the northern province's cultural attractions should whet the appetite of locals and foreigners to travel.
       Four and five-star hotels have already reported festival bookings of 70 per cent of available rooms, which is better than last year at the same time, and two more weeks are still left for the festival,he said.
       Boonlert Buranupakorn, president of the provincial administrative organisation, said all corners of the city would be decorated with flowers and on November 2 the city wil float three giant lanterns representing the three pandas living in Chiang mai Zoo.
       On the next day, visitors will enjoy a special fireworks show.
       Last quarter, the tourism in the province slowed, but the situation should recover this quarter, he said.
       "Tourism revenue should be close to last yea's level, with a slight upside or downside gain," he said.
       Last year, the province generated Bt38 billion in tourism incom, welcoming 5 million tourists, of whom 70 per cent were Thais.

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