Tourist arrivals in the northern Thai town of Pai have fallen by nearly 90% as severe air pollution continues to blanket the region, local officials and residents say to Bangkok Post.
Air quality in Mae Hong Son province has reached hazardous levels, with PM2.5 readings far above safe limits due to persistent wildfire smoke and widespread burning across northern Thailand.
“We have lived with wildfire smoke for almost a month. Every morning we wake up and have to breathe through masks,” said Jurairat Kantasuk, former village head in Pai.
She added that the situation has rapidly worsened for tourism.
“Foreign tourists have dropped by nearly 90% over the past two months. Even those who already booked trips in advance often stay just one day before leaving because they cannot tolerate the conditions.”
Local authorities have distributed protective masks and advised residents to limit outdoor activities, while health workers monitor vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly.
Despite mitigation efforts, more than 1,000 fire hotspots were detected across 17 northern provinces in a single day, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
Health officials continue to warn that the haze poses a serious public health risk as northern Thailand’s tourism sector comes under increasing pressure.
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