Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association
The Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association was established in 1986 due to a continuing increase in the number of tourists (from previously about 100,000 visitors per year) and as a result of the continuous development of the province, which began enjoying growing popularity from tourists worldwide. Meanwhile, tourism industry also started expanding its role so that a group of entrepreneurs collaboratively founded the first tourist business association in 1986 with the objectives of playing a part in supporting the management of local tourism, and representing the private sector in working cooperatively with the government sector for overseeing the benefits of its members. At that time, Chiang Mai was known by tourists as “the Rose of the North.”

Vision of Tourism Management of the Chiang Mai Tourist Business Association for 2005-2006
The association is an organization capable of bringing benefits for its members and is the leading private organization which collaborates with the government sector in moving and pushing forward the internationalization of tourism in Chiang Mai and the northern region, and accelerating competing capacity in the world market in order to raise market capitalization higher, with emphasis on glorifying the arts, culture and customs of Lanna, as well as preserving natural resources.

Mission
1. To strengthen the association by developing the system of internal administration and management to be highly efficient and accountable in accordance with the expansion of the association.
2. To create activities that encourage good relationships among members and provide satisfactory services that meet their needs with the emphasis on building more opportunities in the high-priced market with local arts, culture and customs.
3. To enhance and develop the clustering of private organizations at both domestic and international levels, in order to collaboratively increase strength and competing ability in the high-capitalized market of the tourist entrepreneurs in Chiang Mai.
4. To cooperate with the government sector in presenting ideas and aspects of working schemes of the association and the private sector in developing competence in the high–value (high–end) market of both Chiang Mai and provinces in the Lanna region according to the tourism strategies.
5. To coordinate with educational institutions in both the government and private sectors in developing a management system for academic faculties related to tourist businesses to lay an emphasis upon praising the local arts, culture and customs as well as preserving natural resources.

Policies

1. Within the association

1.1 To create a sense of harmony among the association’s members.

1.2 To expand the membership base by inviting more entrepreneurs in tourist business to become members
(to develop the potential of the association)

1.3 To improve the Information and Technology (IT) media and the website of the association to be modern and complete.
1.4 To publish the association’s journal as a medium to distribute information to its members and be a directory for products and services belonging to the association’s members, as well as notifying websites of different business groups, for example, the hotel association, airlines, souvenir shops, tour companies, restaurants, car-rental shops and tourist attractions. This journal is the information center for tourism in the form of a “One-Stop Service” which brings benefits to everyone.

2. Cooperation with government and private sectors
2.1 To respond to the government’s policy of making Chiang Mai the regional aviation hub in the north to increase the number of tourists and boost the economics of the north. In order to achieve this goal in a sustainable way, tourist attractions, hotels, transportation and environment must all meet with the international standard to satisfy the needs of the tourists.
2.2 To brainstorm among the members and scholars in order to present ideas and thoughts to the government sector for developing the tourist business of Chiang Mai.
2.3 To build relationships with both domestic and international organizations in order to exchange opinions and promote more marketing activities.
2.4 To coordinate with Chiang Mai Charm Cluster Group in order to develop strategies towards accelerating competence in the highly-capitalized market of tourist business.

3. Support for accelerating capacity for competition in products and tourist attractions
3.1 To develop existing tourist attractions/destinations to meet international standards.
3.2 To search for more tourist attractions in Chiang Mai and in nearby provinces as much as possible for creation of diversified tourist programs.
3.3 To urge the government to establish centers for cultural and handicraft displays of Lanna and highland people for the sake of wider market expansion and their sustainable way of life.
3.4 To promote more tourism events, in addition to those existing at present, to attract tourists all year round.

4. Support for accelerating capacity for competition in marketing promotion
4.1 To coordinate with overseas state agencies, such as Thai embassies, Thai consulates, Offices of Trade Promotion of Thailand and Thai Airways in linking and sharing information and commercial activities in the target market of association members.

4.2 To cooperate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and airlines in sales promotion.
4.3 To collaborate with the overseas Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) agencies in welcoming tourist companies or foreign press familiarization trip in the northern region.
4.4 To cooperate with both state and private agencies involved in the tourist market in each country to increase commercial exchanges.

5. Finance
5.1 Revenue of the association is mainly based on the membership fees.
5.2 To organize activities that raise extra income for the association, such as, running academic and practical seminars, and holding sports and concert events, as well as raising charity money from the members.
5.3 To propose projects the government sector or any suitable private development agencies in order to acquire adequate budget for development of an association and tourist entrepreneurs.
5.4 To keep transparent book keeping and submit a report on the association’s performance every 6 months in order to create an efficient and accountable administration. Apart from the policies within the association which are beneficial for the members, the image of the association is also to be internationalized, in particular by encouraging more foreign visitors, and taking part in introducing potential tourist attractions, as well as linking and coordinating tourism destinations in the northern provinces Thailand and other countries in Greater Mae Khong Sub-Region.