News Forum - Betong tourism association pushes for airport runway extension

[Thaiger]

The Betong District Tourism Association is pressing for an extension of the runway at Betong International Airport. The expansion is integral to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s tourism enhancement agenda. The longer runway is anticipated to allow larger aircraft to land, subsequently increasing the influx of tourists. Deputy President of the association, Narin Ruangwongsa, expressed the … …

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[Ramanathan.P]

Betong is only surviving because of Malaysian weekend tourists. Who is going to fly there from BKK? As it is, the airport is like a white elephant for locals and visitors to go and take some pictures. It would be good if they can look into improving the infra of the city instead of spending money on airport extension. Alternatively they can consider the airport complex as a food outlet complex. The runway can be good parking lots for all the vehicles. They can bring in all the different varieties of dishes into smaller stalls to set up something like weekend evening market. That would generate more income than the airport operation. 

[MrStretch]

This is the same airport that carriers couldn't keep servicing because there just weren't enough passengers.

Betong isn't big enough to have its own airport but is a long way from any airport that is profitable enough to stay open.  I understand what the locals want, there just aren't enough of them that will travel to make this feasible.