In March 2004, National Geographic ranked Chiang Mai (and Phuket) as a “Getting Ugly” city in their Traveler magazine. Chiang Mai received just 51 of the 100 points available.

National Geographic seperated 115 of the world’s tourist sites into 3 categories: The good, the not so bad and the getting ugly. Chiang Mai was placed firmly in the “getting ugly” category at number 29 of the 37 there.

The negative points included poor management of tourism, the environment and a change in the Chiang Mai socio-cultural structure.

Various officials, including the governor of Chiang Mai and the mayor ordered meetings with the responsible authorities to discuss the magazines critisisms and to try to solve the issues published.

The president of Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, Boonlert Perela, admitted that Chiang Mai had changed and that visiters felt the city was not the same as before. The 3 negative points the magazine criticized Chiang Mai for were undeniable, especially that of environment. “If Chiang Mai City does not improve itself, its role in the world tourism will be lessened,” he noted.

Almost 3 years have passed since this was published and we want to hear what you think. Has there been any noticable improvements since the findings were published? Have things got worse? If your a new visitor, what were your impressions of Chiang Mai? Are things really as bad as they say?

Please add your comments, feelings and observations on this subject below.