Nan, Lampang & Phetchabun to get special tourism promotion this year
Nan, Lampang and Phetchabun — three growing tourist destinations — are the focus of a new tourism promotion campaign by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) -- "12 Destinations ... You Can't Say No" -- is geared to boost tourism to northern Thailand and generate over 100 billion baht revenue this year. The longer period of cold weather is one major factor driving tourism in the North and the average hotel occupancy rate in the region rose to 80% in December last year. The popular Chinese movie Lost in Thailand, shot in Chiang Mai, breathed new life into tourism in Chiang Mai with arrivals rising significantly in late 2010 along with arrivals to nearby provinces Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.
TAT predicts that income from tourism in the North will grow at least 17% (higher than the national average of 13%) to 110 billion baht this year and tourist arrivals in the region will reach 16.8 million.
Special events and tourism facilities are being planned in northern provinces. Nan has opened Kard Raeng, a weekend market where community dwellers sell food in the evening. Lampang plans to add more hotel rooms and zoning to protect the old city area from growing urbanisation and modern property development. Phetchabun will feature a music festival and an illuminated flower show at night in February. Trendy and chic attractions will be needed to draw young tourists such as the Nimmanhaemin Art & Design Promenade 2014 in Chiang Mai which was a good example of tourism authorities catering to younger travellers.