Chiang Mai battles smog for tourism boost
Chiang Mai tourism leaders are urgently calling on the government to intervene in the city's serious smog problem as the high season approaches. They call for early passage of the Clean Air Act and effective measures to reduce pollution, especially that caused by agricultural activities.
The President of the Tourist Board, Punlop Saejew, has highlighted the complexity of the issue surrounding particulate matter, PM2.5, and stressed that a joint approach is required, using both incentives for compliance and penalties for violations. The council suggests that the government should reward farmers who refrain from using burn-and-slash techniques by supporting the production of their crops and finding alternative sources of income for those who rely on burning forests as their livelihood.
To finance these anti-pollution initiatives, a special fund has been proposed that could provide tax breaks for investors. This fund would also help transition to more environmentally friendly farming methods and provide necessary equipment to combat burning and smog.
The private sector, including Chiang Mai University, is developing technological solutions such as air purification towers. The province has introduced a reservation system for controlled agricultural fires to better manage and reduce uncontrolled fires.
Despite these efforts and the return of tourists to the area, several industries are concerned about the long-term effects of the smog on Chiang Mai's image. This is especially true for long-stay tourists and digital nomads, who tend to leave the city during the smog season.
Well, they are the best at talking and have done so for so many years!! This year we had the worst smog in the 11 years I've lived here. Just like everything else, nothing will change and Thailand reaps what you sow!!!!
Last Friday, many rice fields were burned down simultaneously in the Pichit area in the early evening. That produced a huge cloud of smoke that could be seen from tens of kilometers away.
At first I thought that a very heavy thunderstorm was coming towards us, the cloud was so big, dark and high.
As we approached we saw unusually large numbers of lightning in and around the cloud.
Then I understood that it was not a thundercloud but a dust and ash cloud like volcanic eruptions. A pyroclastic glow cloud, caused by the massive burning of harvested rice fields.
Spectacular to see, but also in terms of negative impact on people and the environment. Impressive gigantism with an equally gigantic social cost.
And the rice farmer, he continues to burn. Aware of no harm.