Local tourism authorities are developing plans to assist the province's tourism sector after Nok Air stopped its direct flights to Mae Hong Son due to business losses.

Nok Air's direct flights to Mae Hong Son ended on Wednesday.

The Mae Hong Son Chamber of Commerce said the axing of Nok Air's flights would harm the province.

The chamber is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to address problems caused by the flight terminations and will hold talks with Bangkok Airways to fly to the province.

It said not having an air service will affect the province's tourism and its development as well as the country's overall economic growth.

Now tourists can only reach the province via three rural roads from Chiang Mai.

A visit to the province by road requires a six-hour drive from Chiang Mai instead of a 50-minute flight from Chiang Mai or about a two-hour flight from Bangkok.

Nok Air also decided on Thursday to end all its flights nationwide using 50-seat aircraft and returned them to the vendor.

The carrier was financially hit due to its use of the aircraft over eight years, according to a Nok Air statement.