No change in scheduled flights to Thai North during Songkran Festival

BANGKOK, April 2 (TNA) - The state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says that there have been no change in scheduled flights to the country's northern resort Chiang Mai Province during this month's Songkran Festival. TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn made the remarks on April 1 after visiting Chiang Mai and meeting with the provincial governor and senior officials of the Nakhon Chiang Mai Municipality, as well as local tourism business operators. Yuthasak told TNA that all relevant parties in Chiang Mai have stressed on their readiness to welcome international tourists during this month's Songkran or Traditional Thai New Year Festival, including prepared measures to take care of the international visitors' good health. For measures concerning the haze problem, Yuthasak stated that TAT will work together with all the relevant parties in Chiang Mai to, among others, install signs at public places to notify the updated air quality index (AQI), the measurement of air quality levels, to the international visitors. "Normally, the AQI in Chiang Mai reaches 300-400 levels only during 04am-11am but the air quality improves thereafter daily, while most people would like to enjoy splashing water with each other after 11am", the TAT governor explained. The TAT governor acknowledged, however, that the prepared measures include spraying water at high buildings to also help ease the smog problem, as well as creating more fountains and water curtains in focal areas to build up more confidence among international visitors to Chiang Mai. Besides, the local water festival in Chiang Mai has been set to start from April 2 until mid-April to provide more times for the international visitors to enjoy the annual local festivity. According to the TAT governor, hotel reservations for this year's Songkran Festival have been canceled by 10-15 per cent lately, mostly by Thai tourists who may change their minds and book their hotel rooms again before mid-April. (TNA)