Chiang Mai checks out new markets

Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association’s new president says he wants to create unity within membership ranks and support promotions in emerging tourism markets.

CBTA president, Sarawut Saeteo, said his priority is to build unity in the private sector and promised to set up teams to tap business opportunities in new markets. Mr Sarawut replaces Songwit Itthipattanakul, whose term ends this month.

The new president has promised to set up various sub-committees to study new niche markets such as medical tourism, eco-adventure and sports tourism. The subjects  were in the news, recently, when the provincial governor recommended an investment to position the city as a regional hub for sports, events and medicine.

Mr Sarawut will also look at ways to boost business based on Chiang Mai’s reputation as a festival town.

“I want to revive and improve Chiang Mai’s status as the premium place to celebrate traditional festivals such as Songkran and Loy Kratong by creating interesting activities.”

He owns two hotels in Chiang Mai – The Family Hotel and Inthanon Riverside Resort. He also holds a directorship of the local newspaper, Chiangmai News.