CHIANG MAI TO BECOME AVIATION HUB WITHIN 3 YEARS - Ajarn Forum

Droopy · 30th November 2004, 14:25

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CHIANG MAI TO BECOME AVIATION HUB WITHIN 3 YEARS
Copyright 2004 Financial Times Information All rights reserved Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire Copyright 2004 fnAsia Advisory Co; fnWeb.com; November 29, 2004 Monday

fnWEB - Bangkok - November 29, 2004 - The government is to accelerate plans to ensure that Chiang Mai becomes transformed into a fully-fledged regional aviation centre within the next three years, Deputy Transport Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri announced yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting of the committee responsible for the northern city's aviation hub plans, Mr. Vichet said that the project was making good progress, and that the city's transformation would be complete by 2007.

Attending today's meeting were representatives from the Department of Aviation Transport, the Chiang Mai provincial authorities, the Airports Authority of Thailand, the Thai Hotel Association, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International and the Immigration Police Bureau.

The Department of Aviation Transport is currently negotiating with several international airlines to liberalize scheduled aviation routes in and out of the city, and is also offering unlimited access for international charter flights. Equally, all domestic airlines now enjoy unlimited access to Chiang Mai's airport.

Meanwhile the Airports Authority of Thailand has pledged to offer reduced landing fees and other charges, and has expanded the airport's international passenger terminal. Eventually this will be replaced by a new international terminal, while the existing building will be transformed into a passenger terminal for domestic flights. Also being expanded are runways, car parks and cargo warehouses.

On the ground, the Office of Transportation and Traffic Policy and Planning has hired Chiang Mai University to draw up a transportation master plan for the province's transformation into a regional logistics and transportation hub.

The aim will be to ensure that transportation arrangements respond to the development of the city and its industries, both in the present and in the future.

In the city, companies are rushing to invest in the construction of five-star hotels, an international convention centre and the Chiang Mai Night Safari, while educational institutions are promoting information and communications technology (ICT) courses in response to the city's bid to become one of the country's major ICT cities.

The city also aims to become a regional medical hub, with revenue from healthcare expected to leap from Bt2.43 billion this year to Bt5 billion by 2007.

Chiang Mai's potential as a tourism destination will be showcased at the Chiang Mai & North Travel Show next week, when local tourism companies will be able to present their products to buyers from around the world.

The government has already designated 2007 as 'Visit Chiang Mai Year', and hopes to be able to boost the number of tourists visiting the city from 2 million to 3 million.

D. Bruno Starrs · 30th November 2004, 14:46

One assumes that the pollution of Chang Mai will also increase with the influx of more fossil-fuelled machines ...

expatwannabe · 30th November 2004, 16:10

It's already too nasty, there. When will they put in some street cars or something? Or do people have to be keeling over from lung cancer?

Loaded · 30th November 2004, 16:24

The airport will be built on farm land. The land has been purchased, from poor ignorant farmers, over the last couple of years by an exceedingly astute businessman who guessed that CM's new airport would be built there - I say good luck to him for spectulating and risking his cash. Thailand needs entrepreneurs like him

Mr Thaksin Shinwatra you are slime.

paully · 30th November 2004, 17:06

Yes, the days when Chiang Mai residents can say "I don't know how people can live in dirty, smelly, noisy, crowded, expensive Bangkok when they could live in idyllic, peaceful, clean Chiang Mai" will soon be over. Actually, the last time I was there, a year ago, the area between the airport and the moat reminded me distinctly of a Bangkok suburb.

PeaceBlondie · 30th November 2004, 20:57

At the end of the rainy season, I expected to get a clear view of Doi Suthep. For a week or two, it was smoky or smoggy. Only last weekend's good rain finally washed it out. That's my measure of air quality. I doubt the clear view will last long.

On another website, somebody claimed you can get a metered taxi in CMai almost anywhere. I've seen maybe ten this year, and they may have been the same three taximeters.

Hopefully, all that growth won't happen that fast. The three overpasses for the superhighway should be finished in another 12-20 months; that'll help. I don't know. It's a big city, and Bangkok should not be the only standard against which to measure CMai.

Humbert · 30th November 2004, 21:10

Maybe I'm being a tad optimistic but I think Chiang mai will continue to retain its charm. For me the moat and the Suthep views are what seperates Chiang Mai from just any other provincial town. Fortunately there is no way that they can build outwards to the west cos Doi suthep gets in the way and the moat isn't going anywhere.

To compare Bangkok with Chiang Mai is fatuous. They are and always will be poles apart.