• A thick haze has continued to cover a large area of northern Thailand for the past two weeks. Provinces affected are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phrae, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, and Phayao. Myanmar and Lao PDR are also affected.
  
  
• The districts of Amphoe Chai Prakan and Amphoe Phrao in Chiang Mai, and the entire Chiang Rai Province have been declared a disaster area.
  
  
• From an air test conducted on March 13, it was found that there were 284 micrograms of dust particles per 1 cubic meter, the highest reading ever registered in northern Thailand.
  
  
• The haze is a result of widespread man-made forest fires and farmers in Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia employing the slash-and-burn technique to prepare land for the cultivation of crops during the dry season. It is also due to the extended cold season this year, which resulted in low pressure prevailing over the area and exacerbating the haze situation. In addition, the haze has settled in valleys, making it harder to dissipate.
  
  
• There have been adjustments to flights to the area as follows:
  

  		Thai Airways International Nok Air and SGA have adjusted their Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son flights with some cancellations depending on weather condition.
  		Thai Air Asia has adjusted timing of its Bangkok-Chiang Rai-Bangkok flights.

• Road travel in the affected provinces remains difficult with low visibility.
  
  
• Chiang Mai has turned on its water fountains in the city 24 hours to increase humidity in the atmosphere and has prohibited the grilling of foods and all manners of burning.
  
  
• TAT Northern Region Office: Region 1 reported a cancellation of 50 persons of an incentive group from the U.S., but no other cancellations.
  
  
• TAT Northern Region Office: Region 2 reported no cancellations, with an average occupancy rate of 60-70%.

International Public Relations Division, TAT
March 15, 2007