GHB chief executive Chatchai Sirilai announced the extension of the scheme yesterday after thousands of people queued at GHB branches across the country, beginning early in the morning, to reserve loans to buy houses designed for low-income earners and priced under Bt1 million. The bank had set aside Bt50 billion for the programme, enough for about 50,000 homebuyers.

The state-run bank is offering low-interest loans that can be repaid over 40 years. People earning less than Bt25,000 a month will be charged a fixed 3 per cent interest for the first five years. People earning more pay 3 per cent interest for the first three years.

As of 4pm yesterday, the tally of loans reserved had topped Bt90 billion – nearly double the Bt50 billion budgeted.

Chatchai said the bank was ready to extend another Bt50 billion in loans in the second phase to meet the high demand, but Cabinet approval was needed to subsidise the interest costs.

For the first phase, the government agreed to earmark Bt3.8 billion in subsidies covering the interest.

Chatchai said interest for the second phase could be somewhat higher because interest rates in general are going up.

He said the bank would complete the process of gauging and granting loans for the first phase by February.

Particulates measuring 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less were recorded in at least 20 roadside locales beyond the safety limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre. Sixteen other places also have levels dangerous to health. The worst-affected area – assigned a “red code” – on Sunday morning was Tambon Pak Nam in Muang Samut Prakan, with a reading of 93 micrograms per cubic metres.

Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon earned an orange code with 90 micrograms, while the readings were 73 along Bangkok’s Soi Lat Phrao, 95 in Wang Thong Lang district and 72 on Paholyothin Road in Chatuchak.

In a bid to lessen the smog, city workers on Sunday sprayed water along the roads in Lumpini Park. To increase humidity, Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang ordered the use of high-pressure hoses that can shoot water 30 metres into the air, the first time they’ve been used. BMA deputy permanent secretary Wiparat Chaiyanukit was at the park cheering on the mission.

Absence of wind added to the high accumulation of dust particles, according to the Pollution Control Department (PCD). It warned that the air quality was unlikely to improve on Monday and urged people to stay indoors or wear an N95-rated facemask if they go out. Cars and trucks that belch black exhaust smoke should not be operated, and outdoor fires are discouraged.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has ordered strict controls on outdoor burning and has officials advising crematorium operators about proper practices. PCD director-general Pralong Damrongthai said the PM2.5 level was unsafe in Phayathai, Din Daeng, Lat Phrao, Min Buri, Bang Khun Thien and Rama II Road. Residents there should take protective measures because the particulates – one-tenth the size of a human hair – enter the lungs and irritate the respiratory system, he said.

Anyone already in poor health would be more easily affected by PM2.5, Pralong noted. The particulates come mainly from diesel engines and the worn combustion systems of older vehicles, from burn-offs of cropland and from factories.

The PCD is working with the city, traffic police, the Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

Traffic police are tagging vehicles issuing black exhaust with a sticker and ordering them off the road, Pralong said. The authorities could also bar large vehicles from inner Bangkok if the air pollution remains bad much longer, he said.

The number of independent tourists visiting the northern city has been rising gradually though the number of group tourists dropped slightly after a boat accident in Phuket killed 47 tourists in July, Pakkanan told The Nation in an interview last week.

The 60:40 ratio of independent and group tourists over the past few years has changed to 70:30, Pakkanan added.

She explained that the increasing number of free independent travellers included domestic tourists as well as foreigners, especially those from Europe, Australia and India.

The director, who was posted in Chiang Mai two months ago, said the city seems to have become more popular among Europeans, especially Italians and from German-speaking countries, as well as Russians.

Also, some nationalities visit Chiang Mai more often and during specific seasons. For instance, Israelis usually prefer to come during the rainy season to enjoy the sound of rain and waterfalls, as their country is more prone to droughts. But now, many of them also visit during the winter season.

Foreign tourists pose for picture at Canopy Walkway at Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden

Last year, Chiang Mai welcomed around 10 million tourists, 7 million of whom were locals and 3 million foreigners, Pakkanan said. Of the foreigners, 1 million were Chinese.

However the number of Chinese tourists dropped after the boat accident. As of November, tourist arrivals to Thailand had reached 34.43 million, up 7.53 per cent, generating an estimated Bt1.8 trillion in tourism revenue, up by 9.79 per cent, over the same period in 2017. China still led the list with the 10 millionth tourist arriving in the Kingdom last week.

Pakkanan said Chinese tourists have gradually started returning to Chiang Mai, thanks to new flights being added to the Beijing-Chiang Mai route, bringing the number of flights up to seven daily.

The TAT’s Beijing office reported that the trend of big tour groups has changed to small groups comprising six or seven travellers, she said.

“So, instead of mainly relying on Chinese tourists we have a mixed market,” the director said, suggesting that tour operators make adjustments and offer more tailor-made services to serve the changing behaviour of tourists.

The TAT has transformed its strategy by offering more digital information to facilitate the change in trends, she added. For instance, she said, individual travellers usually find information and routes by themselves through the Internet and decide where they should check in, so apart from distributing booklets, the Chiang Mai office is now also providing information via digital platforms and offering a QR code for people to download e-books.

                                                                             Pakkanan Winijchai

However, her office is facing challenges.

She said Thailand, as a popular destination, has seen an increasing number of repeat visitors, though the number of first-time visitors has dropped. The ratio of repeat tourists to first-timers stands at 70:30.

The challenge for her office now is to get more first-time visitors, she said.

But both types of visitors have pros and cons, she admitted.

Revisiting groups usually plan their own trips and do not need to rely on tour packages. They also tend to spend less, as they connect with locally based communities and eat local food. Still, she said, it’s good because they boost the income for the locals.

First-time visitors, on the other hand, tend to be big spenders as, never having visited the city before, they go to tourist attractions and dine at luxury restaurants, she said.

Pakkanan said there is an opportunity for Chiang Mai to overcome this challenge, as the city has been evolving, with more activities and new tourist attractions emerging all the time.

“Chiang Mai has become a major destination, because now there are direct flights from Europe to the city. So, we can promote it as a top destination, and design package tours for tourists to stay longer, or around four to five days, compared to the two days that people previously spent in Chiang Mai,” she said.

The TAT is also encouraging operators in Chiang Mai to design new routes and include new places following a government campaign to promote tourism in 55 secondary cities to boost local revenue. Those who spend on accommodation and food and drink at these secondary locations can claim tax deductions of up to Bt15,000.

Some Chiang Mai districts, including Chaiya Prakan, Fang and Mae Ai, have been categorised as second-tier cities.

“We are now promoting new routes combining Chiang Mai with second-tier cities such as Chaiya Prakan and Fang district as well as neighbouring provinces like Chiang Rai, Lampang and Lamphun,” Pakkanan said.

Tourists can depart from Chiang Mai, spend a night or two in the districts before heading to neighbouring provinces, she explained.

Pakkanan is also encouraging locals to visit the city during weekdays, so the city is not too overcrowded during the weekends. Those who opt for trips on working days will also receive benefits from the TAT and its partners.

The state-run bank is offering low-interest loans that can be repaid over 40 years.

People earning less than Bt25,000 a month will be charged a fixed 3 per cent interest for the first five years. People earning more pay 3 per cent interest for the first three years.

The bank has set aside Bt50 billion for the scheme.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said he would ask the GHB to consider extending the soft-loan programme for people unable to obtain one this time.

Particulates measuring 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less were recorded in at least 20 roadside locales beyond the safety limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre.

Sixteen other places also have levels dangerous to health.

The worst-affected area – assigned a “red code” – on Sunday morning was Tambon Pak Nam in Muang Samut Prakan with a reading of 93 micrograms per cubic metres.

Rama II Road  in Muang  Samut Sakron  earned an orange code with 90 micrograms, while the readings were 73 along Bangkok’s Soi Lat Phrao 95 in Wang Thong Lang district and 72 on Paholyothin Road in Chatuchak.

Absence of wind added to the high accumulation of dust particles, according to the Pollution Control Department (PCD).

It warned that the air quality was unlikely to improve on Monday and urged people to stay indoors or wear an N95-rated face mask if they go out.

Cars and trucks that belch black exhaust smoke should not be operated, and outdoor fires are discouraged.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has ordered strict controls on outdoor burning and has officials advising crematorium operators about proper practices.

PCD director-general Pralong Damrongthai said the PM2.5 level was unsafe in Phayathai, Din Daeng, Lat Phrao, Min Buri, Bang Khun Thien and Rama II Road.

Residents there should take protective measures because the particulates – one-tenth the size of a human hair – enter the lungs and irritate the respiratory system, he said.

Anyone already in poor health would be more easily affected by PM2.5, Pralong noted.

The particulates come mainly from diesel engines and the worn combustion systems of older vehicles, from burn-offs of cropland and from factories.

The PCD is working with the city, traffic police, the Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

Traffic police are tagging vehicles issuing black exhaust with a sticker and ordering them off the road, Pralong said.

The authorities could also bar large vehicles from inner Bangkok if the air pollution remains bad much longer, he said.