Mr Charoensuebsakul continued by saying that free entry was a New Year’s gift for visitors and in keeping with the national government’s aim of bringing happiness to one and all. He added that the current chillier weather had proved a major draw over the past few weeks and visitor numbers had increased significantly.
The park has already announced that tickets to visit will increase after the New Year holiday. The rise will see adult foreign tourist pay THB300, up from THB200, and the price for Thai adults go up from THB20 to THB50. Children’s tickets will be THB20 for Thais and THB150 for foreigners.
Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and is the focal point of the 480km² national park in the northern province of Chiang Mai. In December and January, morning fog invariably shrouds the 2,565-metre peak and there is occasional frost.
The chance of seeing frost in a tropical country and the sight of winter flowers are always major draws. The number of visitors often soars to 10,000 a day at this time of year.
New Year free entry at Inthanon National Park
News in Asia
Staff at Doi Inthanon National Park have released a statement saying that entry fees for tourists will be waived on the New Year holiday. Park boss Pornthep Charoensuebsakul says rangers manning gates to the park will not collect fees on 31 December or 1 January.