Int'l tourists welcome to Chiang Mai Flower Festival

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, February 7 (TNA) - International tourists are now welcome to Thailand's northern resort Chiang Mai Province, where a three-day annual Flower Festival is organised, from February 6-8, expected to generate about 700 million baht tourism-related revenues. International visitors on Saturday viewed 28 beautiful flower-decorated floats and a showcase of other beautiful flowers and decorative plants at the 39th Chiang Mai Flower Festival before the winter ends. The first flower-decorated float was equipped with a trophy from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, followed by a float displaying the traditional northern Thai "Lanna" art and culture. The floral float of the Chiang Mai Administrative Organisation was decorated with Chiang Mai's provincial symbol, an elephant, surrounded by the province's well-known Huay Kaew Waterfall and various kinds of stunning and beautiful flowers grown in the Thai North. The floral float of the state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was decorated with the stunning Golden Supannahong Boat, in which 2014 Miss Thailand Vilasini Chanwuthivong sat amid the admiration of the viewers. TAT Chiang Mai Office Director Wisut Buachum told journalists that the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is one of provincial events organised annually and renowned throughout the world. The TAT director noted that hotel booking has been as high as 90 per cent and it is projected that about 700 million baht should be circulated in Chiang Mai during the three-day event. (TNA)