Third Gateway Airport For Greater Bangkok
The decision by the government to develop U-Tapao as a third gateway for Greater Bangkok should be a strong boost for the Eastern Seaboard.
Airlift is a dynamic driver of demand as the current malaise in Pattaya's real estate sector with Eastern European property buyers gone missing in action, the longer term development is good news.
U-Tapao will see an extensive upgrading of its existing facility and development of a new passenger terminal.
A new highway link is also in the works.
The mid-term goal of the airport is five million annual passengers.
For Phuket there remains a shroud over any longer term plans for a second airport in Phang Nga to relieve the current island airlift challenges.