On 24th August 2026, Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce Vice President Akom Suwannakantha and representatives from related organisations held a press conference at the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce to announce the upcoming Chiang Mai Longevity Summit 2026: World Class Wellness Destination.
The summit will launch a five-year strategy built around five key clusters: longevity food; herbal medicine and cosmeceuticals; medical services; mindfulness and mental wellbeing; and proactive marketing powered by digital technology and AI. The strategy aims to generate up to 150 billion baht in new revenue, positioning Chiang Mai as a global Longevity and Wellness hub.
The initiative will also launch four pilot experiential tourism routes and seek to transform local herbs into internationally recognised, medical-grade innovations while expanding the preventive healthcare market and attracting high-spending luxury consumers.
Akom said the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and private-sector tourism networks, will host Chiang Mai Longevity Summit 2026: World Class Wellness Destination from 3rd–4th September 2026 at Shangri-La Chiang Mai.
The project is intended to transform Chiang Mai into a high-value wellness tourism hub through a five-year Longevity strategy covering five major clusters. By 2031, the Chamber aims to increase revenue from foreign visitors to Chiang Mai to 150 billion baht.
Under the five-year strategy for 2027–2031, Chiang Mai aims to increase its foreign tourist base from approximately 3 million visitors to 7.5 million. Average spending among general international visitors is targeted to rise from 12,485 baht to 20,000 baht per visit, while the province will target high-spending international wellness tourists, who typically spend between 45,000 and 80,000 baht per visit.
The strategy aims for the Longevity and Wellness economy to account for 35 percent of Chiang Mai’s GPP, representing approximately 52.5 billion baht, through five clusters:
- Medical and healthcare services
- Healthy, safe and personalised food
- Cosmeceuticals, herbal products and high-value health products
- Mental wellbeing and lifestyle activities, including mental health therapy, nature-based healing and Lifestyle Wellness
- Proactive marketing, particularly through innovation and digital technology, to attract high-quality tourists
The Chamber and Chiang Mai University have also developed a five-year investment plan to establish Chiang Mai as a Longevity Hub, with a total budget of 1.141 billion baht covering five strategic pillars and 14 flagship projects.
Among the proposed projects are initiatives to raise the standards of Chiang Mai’s cosmeceutical and herbal industries to meet international high-value markets; establish a Wellness Sandbox for healthcare innovation and specialised services; develop a Zero Burn agricultural ecosystem; promote Lanna wellness brands; and create Lanna Mindfulness routes focusing on mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Akom said the project represents a pilot initiative that builds on Chiang Mai’s existing strengths and readiness to become an international wellness hub. It is also aligned with Thailand’s emerging Longevity Economy, as the country’s ageing population is expected to grow rapidly.
He said new economic mechanisms will be needed to drive sustainable growth, particularly in wellness and longevity. These include applying science to extract active compounds from herbs and develop medical-grade innovations, expanding preventive healthcare markets and catering to wealthy luxury consumers, who increasingly spend on travel and health-related experiences.
Chiang Mai is already seeing growing investment in areas including medical spas, anti-ageing medicine and longevity clinics.
Summit highlights
The first day, 3rd September, will feature a keynote address, “Longevity Wellness Hub Thailand: The Land of Life”, by Weerasak Kowsurat, Chairman of the Advisory Board to the Minister of Commerce and former Minister of Tourism and Sports.
A business-matching programme will connect businesses across five sectors: medical services, food, cosmeceuticals, wellness activities and tourism.
A panel discussion titled “Chiang Mai: A World-Class Longevity and Wellness Destination” will bring together representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the medical sector and Thailand’s spa and wellness industry.
Other sessions include a presentation on Chiang Mai’s Longevity strategy and five-year, five-pillar plan by Assoc. Prof. Dr Kasemsak Uthaichana of Chiang Mai University’s Science and Technology Park (CMU STeP), as well as “Chiang Mai Wellness Playbook 2026” by Dr Ratima Srisomwong and Dr Athicha Khwangsopha of Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Business Administration.
The programme will also include a networking workshop examining Chiang Mai’s Longevity strategy for the coming decade to 2035, business matching, and an exhibition featuring products and services from more than 20 Longevity Economy businesses and partners.
Four pilot Longevity-Wellness routes
On 4th September, participants will visit four pilot Longevity-Wellness routes designed to showcase Chiang Mai’s potential for experiential health tourism.
Route 1: Holistic Retreat – Longevity Route
The route focuses on mindfulness and holistic wellbeing, with activities including a welcome cacao experience, Yoga Nidra and crystal singing bowls, a community khantoke, visits to Aranyawas Temple and the Lhotha Prasat at Phra That Si Mueang Pong, mindfulness activities and self-foot massage.
The programme will also include a horse therapy experience at Pong Yang Horse, where visitors can make and feed treats to horses, ride and take photographs with them.
Route 2: Hot Spring Agri-Gastronomy Route
Participants will explore the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs development, experience Lanna-style massage, foot soaking and hydrotherapy, as well as massage and herbal compress treatments.
Route 3: Medical Innovation Excellence Route
This route will showcase Chiang Mai’s healthcare and HealthTech capabilities through study visits to Chiang Mai Ram Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai’s Wellness Centre, as well as visits to North IVF Medical Clinic and a centre promoting healthy ageing among older adults.
Route 4: The Secrets of BoKaeo – Decoding 100 Years of Longevity
The Samoeng–Bo Kaeo route will explore the lifestyle of long-lived communities, with visitors spending one night in a longevity village to experience life centred around nature, clean air and wellbeing.
The route includes the Rainbow Cave, an Unseen Thailand attraction in Khun Khan National Park, community history and insights into local longevity practices and the development of a longer healthspan. Visitors will sample the Signature 12 Sian menu, take in the Bo Kaeo sea of mist and try special local beverages.
On the second day, the programme will explore the lifestyle of the Hmong community at Huai Nam Chang, including a visit to an old Hmong house and a local ethnic lunch, before continuing to Mae Cha Pu village to learn about the traditional way of life of the Pgak’nyau (Karen) community.
