Chiang Rai tweaks its entertainment

BANGKOK There has been a substantial increase in Thai and foreign tourists visiting the northern province of Chiang Rai at the first signs of winter, according to the city mayor.
Interest in this far north destination perks up when the temperatures fall, a weather trend that is accompanied by morning mists. The 2,000 metre high ridge of Phu Che Fah that overlooks Laos is a favourite spot to enjoy the early morning “sea of mist’ shrouding peaks all the way to Luang Prabang, about 300 km to the east.
There was a clear tourism spike on the charts during the Chinese Golden Week holiday, earlier in the month, when car caravans from China were seen on the province’s road. They were touring from Kunming in China through Lao PDR to Chiang Rai.
inside no 7According to a report on Thailand’s National News Bureau musical performances and food fairs are being planned for Chiang Rai’s main walking street to attract more tourists.
Deputy mayor of the Chiang Rai municipality, Bang-on Malidin, said the municipality will organise the 11th flower fair and the 2015 Thin Thai Ngam beauty pageant during the peak season to stimulate the province’s tourism that runs from November through to the end of February.
“There will be many more festivals and tourism events taking place in winter this year for tourists to enjoy,” said Ms Bang-on.
From 13 to 16 October, temperatures in Chiang Rai are expected to drop by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, resulting in cold weather and strong winds. The lowest temperature is forecast to be 17 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Last year, morning temperatures fell to as low as 5 degrees Celsius during December from Christmas through to New Year. By lunch time temperatures rose to 20 degrees.
But festivals and cool weather are not the main drivers bringing tourists to Chiang Rai. The spike in tourism is almost entirely due to the increase of airline options.
Bangkok Airways introduced two daily services, earlier this year and will increase to three daily, 26 October, using Airbus 320s. Nok Air has increased from four to five flights and during October, a national school holiday month, increased services to six daily.
AirAsia offers five flights daily starting at the end of October and Thai Smile offers three daily services also with A320s replacing Thai Airways International that will reduce to a single service for connecting travel.

sourced:ttrweekly.com