(L to R) Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, PBTA President
Jamroon Wisawachaipan, Rear Adm. Surapong Aiyasanon, deputy director of
U-Tapao Airport, and Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
If an upgraded U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport
is going to generate new tourists for the Pattaya area, private
businesses need to work more closely with aviation authorities and the
city needs to improve its infrastructure and marketing, a top airport
official told Pattaya Business & Tourism Association members.
Saeree Piasai, CEO of U-Tapao ground-handling agent
Swift Aviation Services, presented the PBTA’s annual general meeting
March 30 with an eight-point “roadmap” for tourism development of
tourism related to the planned redevelopment of U-Tapao’s passenger
terminal and auxiliary faculties. The report, prepared by U-Tapao Deputy
Director Rear Adm. Surapong Aiyasanon, said aggressive, integrated
marketing is needed to publicize the airport’s upgrades and the benefits
of visiting Pattaya.
The city’s hopes of using the expanded airport
facilities to draw new tourists to Pattaya “cannot succeed if Pattaya
city officials … and private organizations don’t cooperate to drive the
development plan,” the report’s executive summary warns. It adds that
private firms should not fear committing to help U-Tapao’s development
because it does not bind them legally or financially to the airport,
only the ultimate goal.
While the 900 million baht in improvements being made
to U-Tapao will certainly attract more business, sustainable growth in
tourism is ultimately tied to improvements in Pattaya’s own
infrastructure, the report concludes. The city needs better road and sea
transportation, including a modern local-bus system, train service and
offshore boat anchorages. It also needs to improve food-chain
management, waste eradication and install of Wi-Fi Internet access
city-wide, the report states.
Aggressive marketing and promotion is also needed,
the airport concludes. This includes showing of the region at more trade
fairs, educational facilities and duty-free shops. The report also
suggests promotions such as a Pattaya “VIP card” and discounts on
lodging and entertainment for U-Tapao passengers.
The most-pressing goals for the city should be
creation of convenient airport links to U-Tapao and in-town check-in
services, the report states.
The presentation was well-attended, with Pattaya
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome taking in the conclusions. Following the
report, association members and others at the general meeting attended a
party.
