New Bangkok airport to help double Thailand tourism income

Bangkok's new international airport will help Thailand's tourism revenue double to 27 billion dollars over the next five years.

"The new airport will certainly boost the tourism industry in Thailand," Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit told reporters at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which opens on September 28. The government forecasts Thailand's tourism revenue would rise to one trillion baht over the next five years and is estimated to hit 500 billion baht in 2006, Suriya said.

Tourism is a key money spinner for Thailand, accounting for six per cent of the economy. The state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand expects 15.12 million tourist arrivals this year, up 13 per cent. Suvarnabhumi, which means "golden land" in Thai, has been in the works for 40 years but suffered repeated delays due to construction problems and allegations of graft.

The new airport, with initial capacity to serve 45 million passengers annually, will relieve congestion at the overburdened Don Muang, which now handles about 37 million passengers, two million over its capacity.

The government hopes Suvarnabhumi, located 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of Bangkok, will help Thailand compete against rivals Malaysia and Singapore to become the region's most important aviation hub.