Amazing Lanna campaign is launched

[Khun Don]

Amazing Lanna campaign is launched

Major effort to attract more tourists
Linda Ratchai

Tourism leaders and organizations in Chiang Mai Province have jointly cooperated to launch Amazing Lanna in a bid to stimulate provincial tourism industry during the green (rainy) season.

The Director-General of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Region 1, Mr. Junnapong Saranak, in collaboration with Chiang Mai tourism businesses have issued a project aimed to stimulate tourism figures during green season, promoting low prices of tour packages.
The project was officially announced at the tourism fair at Impact Arena Muangthong Thani in Bangkok and the Green Season promotion will continue through September.

Each tour package will take tourists on visits to important and historical places in Chiang Mai province and provide additional privileges.
Some 50 specially prepared travel packages that involve 300 local businesses made up of hotels, resorts, restaurants and spas will attempt to attract more tourists to Chiang Mai during the low season.

The travel packages include the Amazing Cookery and Spa, Amazing Cultural Tour and the Amazing Golf Adventure among others.
Local tourism officials fear that visitor numbers between June and September this year will decrease 14% over last year and this has prompted them to create this special promotion.
Interested visitors can search for further information at www.amazinglannajao.com (at press time the web-site was not working) or by calling 053-524533

Chiangmai Mail

[Khun Don]

The site works now-but is only in Thai. Have tried to e-mail site on this point-but e-mail does not work. Mai Pen Rai.

[Betti]

amazing golf courses as "amazing Lanna". oh well. could be worse

[Khun Don]

I have e-mailed the "Chiangmai Mail" with my comment on the site as to it been only in Thai. (which defeats the purpose, somewhat!) I have had a reply and they are going to pass my concerns on to those concerned.

[Stephen Cleary]

The site works now-but is only in Thai. Have tried to e-mail site on this point-but e-mail does not work. Mai Pen Rai.

Now, that's pretty darned dumb!

[Khun Don]

Just checked the site -some 6 days later from last check- e-mail still does not work and none of the "downloads" function. The language thing apart-what is the point of uploading a site that has faulty links? At the moment it is virtually a waste of server space. Perhaps the people doing this site need to talk to farang residing in Lanna to get some help in putting together a web site that will attract foreign visitors rather than one that looks pretty ,but in no way fulfills its mission.

[UpToYou_inUdonThani]

The campaign itself should be successful because Lanna is interesting. There are many cultures in the north (Lanna, Shan, Lawa, Mon, the hilltribes, Karen), it has its own distinct language, writing system, food, style of wat, and history. During 1983-1985, I visited many historic places in the north ranging from Chiang Mai to Lamphun to Chiang Saen and Nan. There is much of value to view and experience. I wish them the best with this campaign, and urge them to highlight all of what is the best in the north.

In fact, they could do a package which includes the Shan States of Burma, the Sip-song-panna region of China, Luang Phra Bang in Laos, and the Tai Ahom area in Assam, India. All of these people speak a language similar to northern Thai, and their culture is close to one another too. Kengtung in Burma, and the sip-song-panna and northern Laos were all part of the northern Tai political and cultural world in the 15th century.

[Tim]

amazing golf courses as "amazing Lanna". oh well. could be worse

Right on Betti !!!

There is actually a connection that can be made linking the gradual destruction of cultures such as Lanna with the building of golf courses throughout Asia, including Thailand, but I won't get on that soapbox too much right now. Suffice it to say that the amount of money and energy spent on the water needed for a golf course could go a long way toward improving the plight of rural folks throughout the region.

[Betti]

uptoyou: as far as I know, the Shan State is not accessible to foreigners because it is not safe, unfortunately.

[UpToYou_inUdonThani]

I think it is possible to go to Kengtung, and to Taunggyi (formerly part of Yawnghwe State) near Inle Lake. However, the opium producing regions in Kokang (many Chinese here) and the Wa area would probably be off limits.