Air Pollution in Northern Thailand Threatens Tourism Industry as Visitors Stay Away

The region of Northern Thailand, particularly the city of Chiang Mai and its surrounding areas, is facing a severe air pollution crisis that is now threatening the local tourism industry. Hotel bookings have dropped significantly, and the situation has become a source of concern for residents, prompting the government to issue an advisory urging people to avoid outdoor activities. Chiang Mai is known for its scenic mountainous views, temples, and trendy cafes, and prior to the pandemic, it received 10.8 million visitors in 2019.

In recent weeks, the air pollution in Chiang Mai has become so bad that it topped the global chart for poor air quality on the IQAir platform for several weeks, surpassing the levels seen in Lahore, Pakistan and New Delhi, India. The air quality index (AQI) reached a high of 289 in March, which is a measure of the amount of inhalable fine particles in the air. This reading is 19 times over the recommended level by the World Health Organization. Although the AQI has since eased to 171, the situation still poses a significant risk to public health.

To address the crisis, the health ministry in Thailand has urged the public to wear masks that can filter particles and avoid outdoor activities. The government has attributed the problem to a combination of forest fires and crop burning in Thailand and neighboring countries. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has announced that he is working with Myanmar and Laos to reduce the number of hotspots in the border area to tackle the problem of transboundary haze.

Residents are becoming increasingly concerned about the health risks associated with air pollution, such as allergies and cancer. One resident, Pathumrat Sukhumvit, 36, shared her concerns about the worsening air quality, stating that “It’s getting worse every year, and it’s very worrying for me and my family’s health.” Local businesses are also feeling the impact of the situation, with 54-year-old juice seller, Sarawut Jiraporn, reporting a decline in customers as people are not visiting the area due to the poor air quality.

Tourists are also expressing concerns about the situation. One tourist, Sarah Lee, 27, from South Korea, shared her experience, saying “The dust and smoke are so thick that I can feel it in my nose and throat. It’s not a pleasant experience, and I’m concerned about the impact on my health.”

The severe air pollution crisis in Northern Thailand is now posing a significant threat to both public health and the tourism industry. The government needs to take urgent action to address the problem by implementing stricter regulations to prevent forest fires and crop burning and investing in sustainable solutions to mitigate the impacts of air pollution.