Chiang Mai takes a stab at slow tourism

CHIANG MAI, 24 August 2012: Marketing green tourism and golfing are top the list of priorities for the Tourism Authority of Thailand Chiang Mai Office.

TAT Chiang Mai Office director, Chalermsak Suranant, told TTR Weekly that green and golf tourism are part of the so called slow travel project. It will include efforts to sell cycle trips on a route linking Chiang Mai to Lamphun and Lampang  and promoting  golf.

“We can raise awareness of green tourism through biking as well as encourage cycle tourists to explore the provinces’ scenery, way of life, temples, culture and history along the route.”

The project will need a budget of around Bt1.5 million to build success. Right now the office is studying a sample itinerary and how to promote the routes for cycle tourists.

He hoped the project could revive interest in promoting the province to tap its nature and history not just concentrate on business tourism as is the trend today.

Another project is the Chiang Mai Golf Festival 2013 scheduled for 1 May to 30 June which will require a budget of Bt1 million.

“It does not require such a big budget as we will seek cooperation from partners.”

It will position Chiang Mai province as a new golf destination targeting golfing holidays in regional markets.

At present, 70% of the golfers playing on courses in Chiang Mai and the north are Thais, TAT believes there is potential to attract foreign golfers.

“We have to maintain high standards, provide good services and have well-targeted sales and marketing strategies and activities to make progress,” the director explained.

The main drawback is the lack of nonstop airline services to Chiang Mai. Golfers in Asia will consider a destination if the flight is convenient and priced correctly. Low-cost airlines would need to co-operate to waive charges levied on golf bags and if there is no nonstop flight the connecting time at the airline’s hub should not be more than two hours.

Travel time from regional capitals in ASEAN to North Thailand destinations can be as much as five to six hours. When combined with the higher fare it is difficult to compete with golf courses in Bangkok and Pattaya that are close to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

For example it takes approximately two hours and 10 minutes to fly from Singapore to Bangkok and another hour by land transport to reach golf courses near the capital or at Pattaya.

A similar transfer from most capitals in ASEAN to Chiang Mai could take a golfer most of the day. That’s a round of golf gone missing and for the ardent golfer keen to get the most out of a golfing weekend that is a serious short-coming.

Phuket is served by more nonstop flights from points in ASEAN and is already attracting golfers mainly for informal club style friendly tournaments at top rated golf courses.

However, once on the ground in Chiang Mai, transfers, golf course fees, hotel rates and even spa sessions are considerably cheaper than Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya.

Sourced: ttrweekly