U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport Announces Improvement Progress

The upgrade to the the U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport that will more than triple passenger capacity will be completed next year and will be a welcome boost for Pattaya and the entire Eastern Region. Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome announced “The expansion of the passenger waiting area  will  be finished in 2011 along with the improvement of the runways. Once the improvements are finished we will be able to hold more passengers and take in more flights.”

The Pattaya Business and Tourism Association  met to discuss the progress of the expansion of the U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport following the government grants to increase the waiting room capacity  along with establishing projects to help promote tourism in Pattaya.

Rear Admiral Suraphong Aiyasanon, Vice President of U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport said, “U-Tapao Airport was given a new name and is now called the U-Tapaon Pattaya International Airport. With its new name, the government has granted a budget to expand the passenger waiting area to be able to hold 1,500 people per hour instead of the current 400 passengers per hour. After the expansion is completed, the private sectors will join together with Pattaya City and help promote the U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport. The airport will become the new selling point for Pattaya by letting the tourists know that we now have international airport which will make it easier for them to travel to Pattaya. Not only will this boost the tourism in Pattaya but it will also assist  tourism in the entire Eastern Seaboard as well.”

Commander Saeree Peiasai, CEO of Swift Aviation Services added, “The U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport has the best runway out of all of the airports in Thailand. However at the moment we are not doing enough marketing to let the public know that the airport is not just an airport to be used for emergencies or governmental services. To solve this issue we are going to start promoting the airport listing flight schedules and  any cheap flight reservations that are available. We will also offer special promotions such as discounts on tourist destinations in Pattaya for those who go through the airport, cheaper accommodation and discounts on souvenir goods.”

Mr. Nitti Krungkrut, the Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Pattaya Office said, “Not only will we need the help from Pattaya City but we’ll also need the help from the private sectors such as the hotel or restaurant owners. If we can work together to offer our tourists the best deals, our tourism rate and economy will improve for sure. TAT Pattaya will assist the airport in promoting the special packages available as well as hold special promotional campaigns to try and attract more tourists to the airport.”    

The announcement was attended by leading officials such as Mr. Jamroon Vitsavachaipan, President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Rear Admiral Suraphong Aiyasanon, Vice President of U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport, Commander Saeree Peiasai, CEO of Swift Aviation Services and Mr. Nitti Krungkrut, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Pattaya Office.