Cynics have suggested that the comparatively excellent roadway system in Thailand exists because the construction of roads and buildings provides ample opportunity for the officials involved to earn a little extra “tea money”.
However, I am sure this is not the reason why Pattaya City Hall has recently come up with a variety of construction project proposals, all of which seem well justified and will bring incalculable benefits to the city.
First, there is the airport. On the outskirts of Pattaya there is U-Tapao airport. Officially this is a military airport, but it does handle several flights a day direct from Moscow (now you know where all the Russian tourists come from) and an occasional flight to Phuket or Samui. It’s not much of a facility, but it can handle the few flights that use it.
When the PAD protestors (proud, brave protectors of democracy -aka wankers) barricaded themselves into Suvarnabhumi airport last year; U-Tapao was unwillingly thrust into the limelight as thousands of people queued for hours to check in to diverted flights. It was chaos of course, but it was only for a few days and now U-Tapao is back to its normal, sleepy routine.
The Navy, who were in no way involved in manipulating the current unelected government into power, but who are in some way responsible for the airport, proposed to the government that U-Tapao should be upgraded at a cost of 995 million baht (it would be easier to say a billion, but 995 million sounds cheaper and these projects never overrun their budget).
Enter the major of Pattaya who has announced that his administration, familiar as they are with managing billion baht (sorry, 995 million baht) projects, will take over the management of this project. The name of airport will be changed from “Sleepy Hollow” to “U-Tapao, Pattaya International Airport”.
With the world in crisis and tourist numbers continuing to drop, the rationale for upgrading the airport has not been explained, nor have the additional flights that would suddenly arrive from around the world been defined; but I am sure there is a good reason for the project.
With government tax revenues down 30% from a year ago, some might be concerned about how this project might be funded. Not to worry, the major of Pattaya has a plan. Part of the money will be spent on improving the road access to the airport, and advertising signs will be erected on this road “to provide income to offset the costs of the development”.
The project will therefore cost 994,990,000 baht. Plus contingency.
Comments 🔗
2009-03-14| todd saysan upgraded local airport to ferry more sexpats in at a faster and higher quality rate.
wonder what will happen when pattaya realises that it’s primary industry is sex, and without it there’s not real reason to come to pattaya, the beaches are bad, traffic is bad and all the good parts have been built because so many people come here - for sex.