Ginral Travel & Tourism

Chiang Mai, is the largest and most important cultural city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of
Chiang Mai province, which is the former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna (1296-1768) and was a tributary of the Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is located about 700 km (435 miles) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is along the Ping River, the main tributary of the Chao Phraya River. Chiang Mai means "new city", which is so named because it was the new capital, founded in 1296, succeeding Chiang Rai (started in 1262) was founded in the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna.

The northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai is the second city in Thailand and the most visited city, but in terms of size, they do not compare in Bangkok, the population of the youngest. Chiang Mai to accept a lot of tourists and travelers alike, the radiant center of the city in one of the excellent restaurants and shopping markets and expansionary can walk easily accessible on foot.

There are many in Chiang Mai and at the top of the hill to Wat Doi Suthep and the crown jewels of the Group of traditional live - so popular Thai temples Thai temples, there are luxury hotels such as Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai by a prestigious university, and the city was filled with the places Altrfaith, also offers some of the best cuisine in the North of Thailand. But most of the tourist programs for foreigners organizers, do not prefer to go to temples and restaurants and recreational places, but accept in Chiang Mai in the mountainous tribal flights. For decades it formed the base of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand trips. While there are some excellent tour companies in the city, and unfortunately there is still not in conformity with the specifications companies - so be sure to do your research before you go to remote areas.

Tourism Authority of Thailand's office in Chiang Mai expects to increase the number of tourists from China to 20 per cent for at least the year of 2012, due to the success of the Chinese film "Lost in Thailand," which was filmed in the northern province.
Chiang Mai has more than 33,000 hotel rooms and the Chengmaa International Airport is the third largest airport in Thailand, after the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok.

There are places for conferences and exhibitions in Thailand Bureau (TCEB), which aims to marketing Chiang Mai as a global MICE (meetings, conferences, exhibitions) the city is part of the MICE five-year plan. In 2012, the total value of industry exhibitions and conferences amounted to Chiang Mai 3.9 billion, of which contributed about 3.8 billion with 46 826 travelers from foreign exhibitions and conferences.

However, the influx of tourists may put pressure on natural resources in the city. To face the rampant development and non-planned, with air and water pollution, and waste management problems and traffic congestion, the city launched (NMT) to third parties to the transport system. Initiative, developed by the partnership of experts with support from the Knowledge Network of Climate and Development, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs for the poor in urban areas. Compatible development strategy has gained in support of climate policy makers and citizens alike as a result of the many benefits.

In recent years, Chiang Mai has become the modern city that received an increase in the number of visitors to attract more than 5 million visitors a year, to reach between 1.4 million to 2 million foreign tourists (by year). Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when it concluded in the Chiang Mai Initiative between ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China, Japan, and South Korea). Chiang Mai was one of three Thai cities in a bid to host the World Expo 2020.