The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports has confirmed the long-anticipated approval for the construction of a cable car to Phu Kradueng, a national park in Loei province. The project, managed by the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), will have a 1 billion baht budget and is expected to be completed in 30 months, aiming to open in November 2027.
Mr. Khunwut Buddadoung, a key advocate, praised the project as a breakthrough after over 40 years of lobbying since 1982. He emphasized its positive impact on tourism, local economy, and environmental management, citing international examples like Vietnam where similar projects caused no ecological harm.
One concern is the declining number of traditional porters, whose numbers have dropped from 400 to 200. Mr. Boonhong Jantasee, president of the Phu Kradueng porters, acknowledged the generational shift and welcomed plans to transition porters into official cable car staff. Environmental impact reports (EIA) also outline agreements to prioritize these porters in future operations.