Chiang Mai flower festival to ignite ‘Bt1.5bn tourism boom’ after Covid gloom
Thailand’s Rose of the North bursts into bloom tomorrow (Tuesday) with predictions that the "Charming Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2022" will ignite a 1.5-billion-baht tourism boom.
A floral rainbow is unfurling across the city and in Chaloem Phrakiat Park until February 15, bringing a ray of hope to the tourism-reliant city after two years of Covid-19 lockdowns and travel bans.
The event features seven flower gardens that will carpet 27 rai in dazzling colours, the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) said on Monday.
Meanwhile, nightly fountain shows (6pm, 7pm and 8.30pm) will delight locals and tourists at Mae Yuak Reservoir outside City Hall. Visitors must register for entry in advance as part of Covid-19 measures.
Tourists are advised to check accommodation availability and book in advance as the festival is a highlight of Chiang Mai’s calendar.
Reliant on tourism, the city has suffered two years of economic hardship due to Covid-19 lockdowns and travel bans
Meanwhile, the city also has plenty of other events to entice tourists and residents alike in February, said PAO president Wiphawan Woraputthipon.
The Chiang Mai marathon kicks off on Saturday (February 6) with runners tackling a route through Chaloem Phrakiat Park to Huay Tung Tao Reservoir. The One Tambon One Product exhibition runs from February 7-13, coinciding with the Miss Chiang Mai contest from February 10-13.
Wiphawan said the city expects to generate more than 1.5 billion baht in revenue from these events, boosting tourism-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops.
