Chiang Mai’s tourism industry is taking a big hit with the number of passengers flying in from mainland China plummeting as the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus continues to spread in the Middle Kingdom.
According to figures reported by Thai state-owned public broadcaster Mcot, over 3,000 daily hotel rooms have been canceled in Chiang Mai off the back of the cancellation of tour groups from China.
The number of people flying into Chiang Mai International Airport from mainland China has dropped from 5,000 to 6,000 people per day to less than 800 people, a drop of over 80%.
Local tourism operators are confident that Chinese tourists will return once the coronavirus stops spreading but note that any recovery may take several months to recover.
Around 40 companies that cater to Chinese tour groups in Chiang Mai may be in trouble if Chinese tourists don’t return within two months according to the report.
Photo: Mcot
