B240m budget for Phuket airport pier approved
Wiparatana Nathalang


The pier will be able to take a variety of boats, from ferries to private motor yachts and hydrofoils.

PHUKET: -- The central government has given approval for a budget of B240 million for building a passenger jetty at the Phuket International Airport, allowing people to arrive on Phuket by air and then travel on by boat to where they are staying.

Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Director of the Phuket Marine Office, said the project is now undergoing its environmental impact assessment (EIA), after which planning permission will be sought.

Asked how long it would be before the pier can be up and running, he said, “It depends on how long the EIA takes.”

But he is still full of enthusiasm for his idea. “It will help to reduce traffic [on Phuket’s roads] and solve the problems of airport taxis. It will run to an exact schedule and will cut journey times, and tourists can enjoy the sea view while travelling to their hotels.”

Initially, he said, the service would link the airport with Patong, where many of Phuket’s hotels are. But he foresees a time when there will be services from the airport to Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Racha, the Phi-Phi Islands and other places that have piers.

“It will be used by passenger ferries, speed boats, private boats, motor yachts and hydrofoils – each targeting different groups of tourists.”

Asked whether there had been opposition from taxi drivers in Mai Khao who might see the pier as a threat to their livelihood, he said there had been very little. “Ninety per cent of the local taxi drivers are not opposed to the project because it will reduce traffic, which will allow them to make more trips.

“It will also save tourists time. It will take only 25 minutes from the airport pier to Patong Beach instead of 45 minutes by road.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/b240m-budget-for-phuket-airport-pier-approved-43809.php


-- Phuket News 2014-01-03

This has to be a joke, well at least a few people will have their pension funds sorted!

I am looking forward to arr at midnight and getting on a boat to Patong

I must make sure my offshore survival ticket is up to date.

Part of the B240million would have to have been put aside to calm the ocean during the low season....ridiculous unworkable plan on that aspect alone..IMO

Meanwhile for something more realistic, why not dedicate a few million baht for lifeguards, education and equipment? It seems every year there is a tough time raising money for this basic public service, yet local gov't can spend millions on signs and fountains.

How a caretaker government can vote budget for the future!!!

^{They have an EIA?}

Fantasy island

I still like this idea.

Going by boat is much more nicer with prettier views to the near by resorts, compared to going via the crazy traffic roads.

The ferries will help a bit with the traffic on the roads when it's mostly needed, during the high season. Well not really too much if a ferry capacity is for example 100pax, which is about 3 buses.

Southern Phanga might also benefit of the new jetty.

This has to be a joke, well at least a few people will have their pension funds sorted!

No doubt many people will 'make' much money. Would have been easier to build a light railway from the airport. At least that would be guaranteed all year and weather round service. But that would not be 'approved' by the taxi mafia. They have no problem with the sea ferry idea as they know it will never be operational.

Infrastructure programs such as roads, bridges, rail way lines, public transportation, airports are expensive

and always needing to be built and maintained. With them there is a return on investment, improving

quality of peoples lives and business opportunities moving goods and people around the country.

Especially in Thailand where it is estimated at least 30% of a projects budget gos to pay bribes.This project is crap.

It is not needed and will not be used. Just go see the pier and marina in Chalong. Poorly thought out,

poorly designed, hardly used and ineffective. Just a trough for hogs to feed at.

Infrastructure programs such as roads, bridges, rail way lines, public transportation, airports are expensive

and always needing to be built and maintained. With them there is a return on investment, improving

quality of peoples lives and business opportunities moving goods and people around the country.

Especially in Thailand where it is estimated at least 30% of a projects budget gos to pay bribes.This project is crap.

It is not needed and will not be used. Just go see the pier and marina in Chalong. Poorly thought out,

poorly designed, hardly used and ineffective. Just a trough for hogs to feed at.

I agree with you, except for that the pier in Chalong is used daily. Every morning many speedboats and fishing boats depart from there and return again in the late afternoon.

THis idea though is stupid. The wind and waves will batter the pier to death, except for excellent weather conditions the ride will be uncomfortable with waves coming from the side, 1/2 year the ferries can not run because of the wind and wave conditions, plus after arrival at any of the west coast beaches the people still have to take a tuk tuk or taxi to their hotel, haul around their luggage, etc.

So all in all it will not save time and be uncomfortable. And will it be any safer than a ride on the roads?

Phuket will still be a shxthole anyway !

Sounds like some influential Family just bought a local quarry or hill and has some not so cheap rock to sell .....

Of course no service to Karon or Kata as the local tuktuk mafia would be concerned about tourists using it to visit Patong!

Such negativity in this forum.

Somchai gets some money, Noi gets some, too. K. Kee gets some money, then his gik gets some. Then most brown uniforms get them and then 20 million left for the pier.

Come on, guys!!!