Thailand plans to double passenger capacity across six major airports by 2032, with an investment of at least THB97 billion ($2.86 billion) to support anticipated tourism growth.
According to Nikkei Asia, the combined annual passenger capacity of Bangkok’s two main airports, along with airports in Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai, is expected to reach at least 246.5 million by 2032, up from 116 million as of July. This means that the plan aims to double the transportation capacity.
In September, Airports of Thailand (AOT) unveiled an expansion plan for these six international airports as part of Thailand’s strategy to establish itself as a regional aviation hub.
Kerati Kijmanawat, AOT’s director, presented the Ministry of Transport’s strategic plan for 2023-2027, which outlines goals for Suvarnabhumi International Airport to accommodate 120 million passengers by 2030 and for Don Mueang International Airport to handle 40 million.
By 2032, Chiang Mai International Airport is projected to manage 20 million passengers, Phuket International Airport 18 million by 2028, and both Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport and Krabi International Airport 6 million each.
Kerati noted that while Suvarnabhumi Airport was once ranked among the world’s top 10 airports, it has since dropped to 58th place, according to Skytrax. He attributed this decline to a lack of facilities compared to leading airports in Singapore, Tokyo, Istanbul, and Paris.
AOT’s plan to elevate Suvarnabhumi back into the top 20 airports worldwide is divided into three phases. The first phase (2025-2027) will focus on enhancing operational efficiency, the second phase (2028-2032) aims to establish it as a regional leader in airport services, and the third phase (by 2037) seeks global recognition among top airport operators.
To improve passenger experience, AOT plans to implement new technology to reduce processing times for international travelers. Arrival processing will be shortened by 17 percent, from 30 to 25 minutes, while departure processing will be sped up by 33 percent, cutting the time from 45 to 30 minutes.
Currently, Thailand is banking on a new draft bill to introduce entertainment complexes and casinos across the country, with the aim of giving its economy and tourism a substantial boost.
This initiative is one of the primary objectives of newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is focused on increasing government revenue through mega-projects like entertainment complexes.
According to a previous report, Maybank Securities forecasts that Thai entertainment complexes featuring casinos could generate approximately THB187 billion ($5.14 billion) in annual revenue, accounting for roughly 1 percent of Thailand’s GDP.
The improvement of the transportation infrastructure is signaling positive developments for tourism.
