New airports in western Thailand

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New airport in Phang Nga to promote tourism along Andaman coast

By Goongnang Suksawat

5 October, 2023

(Phang-Nga is a province in southern Thailand, bordering the Andaman Sea on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Phang-Nga Bay, in southern Ao Phang-Nga National Park, is distinguished by its tall limestone rock-like islets. One of the islets, Khao Phing Kan, is known for a 20m-tall rock called Ko Tapu, or James Bond Island, which is featured in the film “The Man with the Golden Gun.” - Google)

As part of the government’s urgent policy to promote tourism along the Andaman coast and to increase revenue from tourism activities, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his entourage traveled to Phuket and Phang Nga to follow up on transportation infrastructure development projects. The Andaman coast is comprised of the provinces of Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Ranong.

Along the Andaman coast, three airport development and construction projects are underway: the second phase of the Phuket International Airport Development Project, the development of the Krabi International Airport, and the construction of the Phang Nga Airport (also known as the Andaman International Airport) in the Khok Kloi Subdistrict of Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province.

According to Airports of Thailand PLC (AOT), the goal of building Phang Nga province’s Andaman International Airport was to boost tourism and turn the provinces along the Andaman coast into air transportation hubs. It is predicted that the construction process will last seven years, with three years devoted to research and development and four years to construction. By the time the airport opens in 2031, there should be a minimum of 15 million more tourists visiting the Andaman region annually.

The Prime Minister stressed the necessity for ongoing development in Phuket as one of the world’s top tourism destinations. He urged the responsible organizations to look out for and guarantee the safety of both locals and visitors.

https://tpnnational.com/2023/10/05/new- ... man-coast/

[Jun]

and the construction of the Phang Nga Airport (also known as the Andaman International Airport) in the Khok Kloi Subdistrict of Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province

What are they playing at ? Google maps shows Khok Kloi is a 25 minute drive from Phuket Airport. How many airports do they need here ?

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Khok Kloi is a 25 minute drive from Phuket Airport. How many airports do they need here ?

The same occurred to me too. There are other places in Thailand that could do with an airport. Why this one, so close to Phuket, is on my "I Don't Get It" list. Even Pattaya's U-Tapao Airport is a good 30 to 40 minute drive from Pattaya.

What makes the most sense to me is the "somebody's brother-in-law pocketing a lot of money syndrome" might be at play here.

[Jun]

What makes the most sense to me is the "somebody's brother-in-law pocketing a lot of money syndrome" might be at play here.

That seems to be the case with many of the construction projects in Thailand.
Whether it be ridiculously oversized railway stations all over the country, resurfacing perfectly good roads or whatever.

Once they put your taxes up, that's funding for even more of these .