Stories tagged with costs
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Chiang Mai still for cheap charlies
Chiang Mai has a reputation as a cheap backpacker destination, but the opening of several luxury hotels recently has hoped to change that. However, recent statistic reveal that there is still a relatively low expenditure per head. In fact average spending per day is 1000 baht less than the national tourism average.
On average, visitors to Chiang Mai spend just 2,700 baht per day, compared to 3,700 as an average among other popular tourist destinations. Figures for this year were slightly up on the previous year but it indicates the city has quite gone upmarket as many locals had hoped for.
Chiang Mai is known as one of the best value destinations for tourists in Thailand, with prices in general up to 50 per cent cheaper for services than Bangkok or Phuket. It’s one of the main selling points of the city.
Last year five million people visited this historic Northern city, of which two million were foreigners. This partly explains the low average, since the city is a very popular winter destination among Thais especially from Bangkok. They come to enjoy the novelty of cool weather but do not have big holiday budgets like those earning abroad.
The breakdown of daily expenditure was revealed thus; 676 baht for accommodation, 461 baht for food, 500 baht for transportation, 672 baht for souvenir shopping and 400 baht for entertainment. In Phuket a traveller would struggle to find accommodation for just 600 baht, but Chiang Mai has plenty of cheap guesthouses catering to backpackers who stay longer and spend less.
"Entrepreneurs, including hoteliers and service providers, should offer different products with higher quality to tap into a niche market and more income" suggested Songvit Itthipttanakul, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association.
He forecast a 5 to 10 per cent increase in visitors numbers for 2008, increasing total revenue to 49 million baht. Local tour operators and agents have complained of an unusually quiet season so far, whereas the city was overwhelmed this time last year by crowds visiting the Royal Flora Expo.
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Dec 2007, 15:16