Special Report for Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps relays/repeats on local Cable TV channel 1, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, Friday 12th September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Contact AndamanNews@yahoo.com
During the Tourism Ministers visit to Phuket and meeting with local tourism sector leaders on Wednesday, he not only listened to their proposals for tourism recovery programs and requests, but was also briefed on the Phuket Airports expansion plan. Our reporter captured the details for you:
The 5 year development plan, with perspective detailed designs, was presented to the meeting of tourism leaders in the Andaman region of Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi, chaired by the Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Veerasak Kowsurat.
The plan was prepared by the Airport of Thailand or AOT Company in support of tourism for Phuket and its nearby provinces as the local resorts & residences are attracting more and more international & domestic travelers. The present facility is reported to be able to handle around 6 million passengers per year. The Phuket International Airport General Manager Wicha Nernlop revealed to us the latest statistics or numbers for the past 12 months from September 2007 to August 2008 which still showed increases, compared to the previous 12 months, of flights up 7% at 37,910 & and passengers up 10.6% at 5.65 million, hence the long term need for the planned expansion.
Mr. Wicha pointed out that the airport only has 1,300 rai of land or 520 acres. This is a very limited area to develop, its very costly for the company to expand and that it needs to make the best use of the existing space.
The AOT however has already drawn up designs under its 5 year development plan with an estimated budget of 5 billion baht. The plan has been announced publicly as the Phuket Airport GM explained to us:
The plan will be carried out in steps with the completion expected in 2012. He said after the expansion it would increase capacity to 12.5 million passengers per year until 2017.
Wicha also stated that the expansion is comprehensive with many facilities covered to cater for both more aircraft traffic and passengers. He also insists that the budget should not be a problem. The Tourism and Sports Minister said he fully supports the airport expansion plan for Phuket as it is one of Thailands top destinations for holiday makers.
However in the short term due to rising oil prices as well as the recent protests & blockades, the month of August 2008 compared to 2007 showed flights were down 28% at 2,435 and passengers were down 14% at 420,474. Therefore khun Wicha told us they are discussing this very day today Friday in Bangkok about incentives to bring more flights back during this low season like reducing landing and parking fees, similar to the Department of Civil Aviation is reportedly doing for other provincial airports including Krabi.
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I really hope the do something about the airport. IT SUCKS. To many airplanes but hte terminal is just beyond to small to handle all the passengers from check in to the chaos at the gates. One gate (66) is right now handling all domestic flights=chaos.
Sooksawaspakdee961 1 month ago
@Airplanespot oh hahah u have no idea how long it had taken from day 1 to completion.....25 years
chitpol 1 year ago
@chitpol Then was Bangkok 'Suvarnabhumi' airport not possible to made right now.
Airplanespot 1 year ago
plan today finish next century, this is how airports in thailand are.
chitpol 3 years ago