Tourists flock to Thailand's chilly North

CHIANG MAI, November 1 (TNA) - As temperatures in Thailand's North continue dropping, large numbers of tourists, especially on weekends, are seen wandering around popular tourist destinations in the region to experience the cold. The ambience at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai on Saturdays becomes lively again as some 3,000 tourists are seen streaming onto Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain. The Meteorological Office in the North has announced that temperatures in the North would drop 2-4 degrees Celsius during the next few days. The temperature early Saturday was at 9 degrees Celsius as thick sea of fog covered the mountain, creating a sensation among tourists. Pornthep Charoensuebsakul, chief of Doi Inthanon National Park, said the venue has prepared enough places for car parking as well as campsites and cottages to cater to enthusiastic tourists visiting the mountain during the current winter season. Pornthep said the national park could accommodate more than 10,000 tourists daily. People wishing to visit the national park for the annual Loy Krathong festival on November 6 should avoid driving if they are not familiar with the steep route and should use buses for their own safety instead. Park officials will man the route to facilitate tourist needs. Meanwhile, Phitsanulok province in the lower North also attracts a large number of tourists during the weekend, especially at the mountains. Tung Salang Luang National Park connecting with the resort province of Phetchabun is packed with tourists spending a night inside a tent in the cold temperatures of 16-18 degrees, so they can view the natural beauty of meadows which are covered with wildflowers. (TNA)