Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin vowed to promote electric mass transit to help solve the air pollution problem in Chiang Mai.

During a two-day trip, Mr Srettha said the situation had seemingly improved since his previous visit on Nov 28, as the level of PM2.5 was significantly lower in the northern city than last year.

Last April, 302 hotspots were detected by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), rendering the situation critical.

Air pollution has also hit tourism in Chiang Mai as both local and foreign visitors did not want to visit the province due to the health risk, Mr Srettha said, adding the government and local authorities have implemented solutions with short to long-term plans to tackle the problem.

The government is now planning to improve the province's mass transportation system to help lower the PM2.5 caused by traffic congestion, the premier said, adding the mass transport system will also be convenient for tourists.

"Chiang Mai is a big city, but it doesn't yet have rapid mass transit. It should have a monorail service, and that would benefit local commuters as well as help boost the economy," he said.

The Transport Ministry wants to replace the city's red pickup trucks known as songthaew daeng with electric vehicles.

The ministry also plans to build Lanna Airport, the second Chiang Mai airport, on an 8,000-rai site in the San Kamphaeng district of Chiang Mai and Ban Thi district in neighbouring Lamphun province.

The premier also said he would contact the prime minister of Cambodia to discuss reducing PM2.5 caused by burning farmland.