Chiang Mai, 20 December, 2019 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the highly-respected “MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2020” in the Northern capital of Chiang Mai, giving a major boost to the appeal of North Thailand as a gastronomy destination.
The popular guidebook, which is used as a reference by millions of food-lovers worldwide, was launched on 19 December, 2019, at a press conference held at Le Coq d’Or restaurant, Mueang district, Chiang Mai, presided over by Mr. Charoenrit Sanguansat, Governor of Chiang Mai province.
Included for the first time, the Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand section of the “MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2020” lists 17 restaurants with a “Bib Gourmand” rating and 33 restaurants rated “Michelin Plate”.
Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor of Marketing Communications, congratulated all the rated restaurants and said it will go a long way towards promoting the gastronomic delights of Chiang Mai and its surrounding provinces, thus boosting earnings of the many small and medium sized enterprises, creating jobs and distributing income across multiple sectors of the economy.
Mr. Tanes noted that TAT first supported Michelin in launching the first Thailand guidebook in 2017, covering just Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. This was expanded to cover Phuket, Phang Nga and the Southern provinces in 2018, and has been further expanded this year.
“Bib Gourmand” rating is given to restaurants, which serve good quality food at medium-range prices. The 17 restaurants listed for Chiang include Choeng Doi Roast Chicken, Ginger Farm Kitchen Roasted Chicken Nimman Han to Jiang Mai, Huan Soontree, Huan Muan Jai, Khao Soi Mae Mani, Khao Tom Yong (Suthep Road Branch), Krua Ya Minaracha Rot, The House by Ginger Excellent beef Saiyud Kitchen and Mo Sai Kanom Jeen San Pa Khoi, grilled chicken, SP and Na Chantra.
The “Michelin Plate” rating is for quality restaurants, which use fresh and meticulously prepared ingredients at a lower price.
Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations for visitors thanks to its outstanding culture and history of the Lanna Kingdom for over 700 years. In the last few years, its natural and cultural attractions have been further enhanced by the emergence of many elegant restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets.
In January – October 2019, Chiang Mai province received tourism income of 84.203 billion Baht, up by 0.91 percent over the same period last year.
Thai tourists had an average expense of 3,562 Baht/person/day, up by 3.90 percent over the same period last year. Foreign tourists had an average expense of 4,446 Baht/person/day or up by 4.81 percent over the same period last year. Food and beverage is the most important category of visitor expenditure.
Mr. Tanes said that the Michelin rating is a strong guarantee of Northern Thailand’s culinary standards.
He said, “Chiang Mai is a logical inclusion in the guide given it has such a thriving food scene, and since it is a major tourist attraction and travel hub connecting to emerging destinations in the North. The Michelin Guide will help to further elevate Chiang Mai’s culinary status.”
The Chiang Mai of today is an enchanting blend of the old and the modern, including when it comes to the city’s fantastic culinary scene. The diversity of food and eateries is impressive, ranging from high-end restaurants catering to the fine-dining crowd to small local joints serving Lanna-style dishes full of flavours and aromas.
Chiang Mai is also home to many Royal Project sites which, while helping to preserve the region’s agricultural heritage and traditions and providing better, more sustainable livelihoods for the local people, are a source of the freshest produce and ingredients for the city’s culinary foodscape.
For the millions of tourists who visit Chiang Mai each year, an impressive range of accommodation is on offer to suit all tastes and budgets. From quaint hostels and budget guesthouses nestled in side streets, to mid-range properties and five-star addresses located downtown, to amazing boutique hideaways in lush green surroundings.
All of these factors come together to make Chiang Mai a gastronomic tourism destination of wonderful diversity and quality.
