As the smog season draws nearer, Chiang Mai tourism operators are urging the government to speed up the passage of the Clean Air Act to reduce pollution from the agricultural sector.

Punlop Saejew, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Council, said the PM2.5 haze is a complicated problem that requires stakeholders at all levels to help resolve, including mechanisms within the Clean Air Act.

This model offers benefits for those who follow the rules and punishes those who do not.

For instance, farmers who do not practice slash-and-burn farming should be rewarded by the government, with support for their crops, he said.

The law should also prevent forest burning by farmers who collect forest products to earn a living. This can be achieved by finding them another job that earns more income, said Mr Punlop.

The government should also establish a fund to reduce air pollution through a fundraising scheme in exchange for investor incentives, such as tax reduction, he said.

The fund could be used to transform local communities that burn fields by offering more environmentally friendly jobs, said Mr Punlop.

Other options include providing sufficient tools and equipment to reduce burning and smog, such as supporting air purifiers in communities and firebreaks during burning.

However, operators remain worried about the perception of Chiang Mai as a city with heavy air pollution, especially among long-stay visitors and digital nomads, he said.

These segments tend to travel back to their home countries during March and April, the peak period for smog, said Mr Punlop.