"As a recent emigre from Bangkok, I am a tad concerned about this government plan to put Chiangmai on the map. Officially it is referred to as a project to turn the city into a Greater Mekong Subregion hub for aviation, tourism, commerce - you name it."

And officially it is costing a startling 150 billion baht. The sum was confirmed to me by former Chiangmai Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn, whose office says the plan began when the city's famous son, former Prime Minister Taksin Shinawat, took office in February 2001, and is due to be completed soon.

Why should I be concerned? Well, one of the main reasons I decided to flee the Big Mango was to take it a bit easier amid the comparative charm and tranquility of laid-back Chiangmai. It is not difficult, at least in my case, to overdose on the vibrant charisma of Bangkok. This city is renowned as a bastion of Buddhism; there, more and more, it is bahtism.

In Bangkok, like most other big cities I suppose, you can go for years without even knowing your neighbour. Chiangmai residents appear more neighbourly, with more sincerity behind the smiles, although I have experienced at least 3 situations here where that neighbourliness has turned to business-oriented hostility. I never came across such a phenomenon during 22 years in Bangkok.
But what will the hub project mean? Will all those backpacking foreign tourists now have more to see than the ancient walls, an abundance of temples, Doi Suthep and the Night Bazaar? According to the plan yes, and there will be a similar new draw for businessmen.

In a hub-related private sector drive, there will be 8 new 4-5 star hotels and resorts including a Conrad resort managed by Hilton, a Le Meridien, a Shangri-La and we already have the breathtaking, mock-Lanna 2.5 billion-baht Dhara Dhevi Mandarin Oriental, occupying 150 rai on the Sankampaeng road. Then there is going to be a huge convention and exhibition centre capable of handling more than 3,000 people.

The aviation aspect of the plan seems already to have started, with 12 airlines now servicing Chiangmai International Airport, including regional carriers like Air Lao, Singapore's Silk Air, Taiwan's Mandarin Airlines and Air Mandalay from Burma. Three el-cheapo Thai airlines, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Orient Thai Airlines' One-Two-Go.

So I wonder if my plan to move to a more relaxing Thai backwater was misguided, and that we are about to be swamped by new development and a more cosmopolitan atmosphere? The Mayor's office says everything, including many new hotels and the trams, will reflect traditional Lanna design.
That's all right then.

Rodney Tasker

‘Why Chiangmai?’ is our guest column. Contributors - who were not born here - introduce themselves briefly, explain why they chose to live here and what they feel about their adoptive home. Be our next guest! E-mail us now.