More int'l airlines to fly directly to Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, November 15 (TNA) - As winter has arrived in northern Thailand, more international commercial airlines, especially those from fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are expected to fly directly to Chiang Mai Province during the current tourism high season. Wisut Buachum, Director of the state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Chiang Mai Office, expressed the optimism on Saturday, when TigerAir Taiwan’s inaugural flight, flying directly from Taipei to Chiang Mai, landed in the globally-renowned northern Thai resort province. TigerAir Taiwan now operates four direct flights from Taipei to Chiang Mai weekly to serve rising demand of tourists wishing to see the natural beauty of the northern Thai resort city. As many as 160 international flights fly to Chiang Mai daily during the current high season, while airlines from ASEAN members plan to operate 20–30 flights, which will make tourism business in the northern resort province become more bullish. Wisut said the number of international tourists visiting Chiang Mai alone this year is expected to increase by at least 20 per cent year-on-year, while the province's tourism earnings should exceed 60 billion baht. In Bangkok, Police Captain Kriangsak Lohachala, a consultant of the Crown Property Bureau, presided over the reopening of 22 shophouses along Khao San Road, following its six-month massive renovation, in which Thailand’s traditional architecture is conserved for people, especially tourists, to see how the old architect looks like. To date, Khao San Road is popular and considered as a backpack haven for international tourists because of its cheap accommodation and a variety of Thai food available along the road, which is situated romantically near the Chao Phraya River. Meanwhile, Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha told the public during his weekly address on Friday night that his government plans to launch a new campaign, dubbed "Discover Thainess 2015", aimed to promote and boost tourism-related businesses in the country. (TNA)