The future of the exposition and its effects on the province were discussed at a seminar held by the Chiang Mai Reporters Association a day before the expo closed.

Some local officials would like the site's gardens to be maintained, but it's unclear at present which bodies might oversee and fund

that.

"The new direction of the exposition's administration and its future should be stated as fast as possible to stop confusion among local people," said Pornchai Jinavastira, a secretary to Chiang Mai's mayor.

"I don't want to see a once extravagant flora garden become just a pile of trash in the province," Pornchai said, adding that its administration should be merged with the Night Safari.

Manas Panya, president of the Chiang Mai Reporters Association, said: "If Chiang Mai province and its provincial administration organisation are assigned to administrate the flora garden afterwards, they will not be able to handle the maintenance of this Bt2-billion site."

He said it should be promoted as a new eco-tourism attraction.

Pornchai said he opposed the exposition closing because it would cause people to lose interest and slow the flow of tourists to the city.

The exposition had numerous negative and positive effects.

Pornchai noted that the number of foreign visitors was disappointing. "The working group had a grand budget for public relations, but they did not spend it effectively to promote the event to foreigners," he said. Only 5 per cent of the visitors were foreigners, he said.

"Chiang Mai's foreign tourists usually stand at about 40 per cent of the tourist population," he added.

However, Junnapong Saranak, director of the Tourism Authority's Region 1, said a large proportion of people who toured the expo were Asian tourists.

"Several factors have caused a less than expected number of western tourists, including a lack of flights and accommodation," Junnapong said. "Flights and rooms are booked in advance by tour agents who arranged package tours for Thai visitors. This gives little opportunity for Westerners to buy tickets to Chiang Mai and book hotel rooms."

Manas commented on the working committee's traffic policy, which prohibited personal vehicles being taken on to the site.

"Many investors who built bazaars and parking areas around both sides of the street leading to the site have been in debt since the policy was announced," Manas said.

"They [the committee] should have planned and announced the traffic policy earlier to give guide?lines to investors. Local people want to gain some profits from the event but they can do nothing."

Dee Jantarakalak, kamnan of tambon Mae Hia, decried what he said was a lack of local participation in the event. "The people in 13 villages in the surrounding areas of the Royal Flora love this piece of land and sacrificed the land for construction of the Royal Flora, which was held to celebrate the anniversary of HM the King's 60th accession to the throne," Dee said.

"They have tolerated inconveniences caused by the exposition but have gained nothing from it," Dee said. "If the Royal Flora is promoted as a flora study park or anything else, local people should at least get some benefit from it." 

Citylife

Chiang Mai