Bokeo to get second airport

BOKEO Bokeo province in Laos plans to build a regional airport with construction expected to start at the end of this year.
Vientiane Times quoted the province’s governor, Khamphan Pheuyavong, saying once the construction starts, it should take about two to three years to complete the project.
An investor has gained a 90-year concession to develop a Special Economic Zone in Tonpheung district and part of the deal includes building an airport, at an estimated cost of USD80 to USD100 million, the newspaper claimed.
An area of more than 200 hectares has been earmarked for the project, while compensation has been offered to local people to vacate their farmlands. No details on the land settlements were divulged or the identity of the investor.

inside no 3Bokeo is close proximity to the Lao-Thai Mekong Friendship Bridge that links Huay Xai in Laos with Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai province, Thailand is a major reason for the investment.
But there is also a small airport at Huay Xai that is served by a daily service from Vientiane. In addition, there was talk that casino operators on the Lao side of the Mekong River would build an airport to bring in Thai and Chinese punters. Critics will challenged the need to have two airports in one province.
Public Works and Transport Minister Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong noted that the Huay Xai airport could not be expanded to meet regional standards. He claimed the airport was located in hilly terrain… space was limited and flights to the airport were considered risky. However, Lao Airlines does fly a daily service despite the risks involved.
The government is pushing the development of what is called the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, but only economic activity of note are the casinos close to Thailand and Myanmar.
But Bokeo province share borders with Thailand and Myanmar and is on the main R3A highway that links Thailand and Laos with China and this fuels government optimism that it can turn the area into a viable economic zone.
The road bridge opened in mid-December 2013 linking highways in Chiang Rai province with the R3A route north to Luang Namtha, and Yunnan province in China.
Already there is a steady stream of container trucks plying the R3A route to transport Chinese exports from Kunming to northern Laos and all the way to the Laem Chabang seaport on the Gulf of Thailand.
Tourism is expanding, too, with Chinese bus tours from Yunnan and private cars visiting Laos and North Thailand.
The R3A highway passes through Laos for around 250 km and eventually ends in Kunming in China, a distance of over 1,000 km. Just 2 km from the bridge’s service road highway on the Thai side of the river, highway 1052 links Chiang Rai a distance of around 100 km to the west.

sourced:ttrweekly.com