Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his delegation took a field trip to Phuket and Phang Nga to follow up on transport infrastructure development projects as part of the Government’s urgent policy to promote tourism along the Andaman coast, and to generate more revenue from tourism activities. The provinces that lie along the Andaman coast are Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Ranong.

There are three airport construction and development projects along the Andaman coast:

1. Phuket International Airport Development Project (Phase 2);

2. Krabi International Airport Development Project;

3. Phang Nga Airport Construction Project (also known as Andaman International Airport) in Khok Kloi Subdistrict, Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province.

According to Airports of Thailand PLC (AOT), the construction of Andaman International Airport in Phang Nga province, aimed at stimulating tourism and transforming Andaman coast provinces into air transportation hubs. The construction process is anticipated to take around seven years, with three years dedicated to research and development and four years for construction. The airport is slated to become operational by 2031, with expectations of increasing tourist arrivals to the Andaman region by at least 15 million per year.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Phuket, as one of the world’s major tourist destinations, needs to be constantly developed. He called for concerned agencies to take good care of and ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.