CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Chiang Mai International Airport recorded around 36,000 passengers per day during Lunar New Year, marking its highest traffic since the end of the pandemic and a sharp boost from international holidaymakers.
Record holiday traffic at Chiang Mai airport
The Chiang Mai International Airport reported a daily passenger volume of about 36,000 people during Lunar New Year celebrations, a new peak since pandemic restrictions eased. The surge was closely linked to a strong influx of international tourists into the northern province, which was widely regarded as a cultural hub of the country.
Projected visitor numbers and local revenue
Official projections indicated that the February festivities were expected to attract more than 200,000 tourists and generate at least 2 billion baht in revenue for the local economy. For this month, about 180 direct and charter flights to Chiang Mai were scheduled, including nearly 70 services from China and Taiwan during the particularly high-demand festival week.
Chinese families extend stays in the north
Tourism representatives reported that many families from China extended their stays in Chiang Mai to a week or longer in order to avoid congested cities and extreme cold at home. At the same time, although Asian source markets continued to dominate, authorities registered a noticeable increase in arrivals from South Korea, Europe and America.
Tourism Authority steps up influencer campaigns
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was currently intensifying its promotional campaigns with Chinese influencers to maintain the momentum built during the New Year period.
“The agency expected the number of Chinese arrivals to reach 7 million by the end of the year, surpassing the original target of 6.7 million visitors.”
said the authority, national tourism body.
Debate over benefits and strain on the city
Local debate focused on whether record passenger numbers, multi-billion-baht income and full hotels would ultimately bring more prosperity or more strain to Chiang Mai.
“How much growth can the city handle: more wealth or more overload?”
said observers, commenting on the tourism boom.