Is this the next Phuket or Krabi?

Never heard of Nakhon Si Thammarat and its emerging beach destination Sichon?

You are not alone.

Yet the unspoilt Nakhon Si Thammarat region in the south of Thailand - about 610km south of Bangkok on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula - could be the next Thai tourism hotspot.

Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport opens next month and is set to spark a new era of tourism.

Overseas visitors will be able to fly straight to a coastal destination that is renowned for its pristine beaches, forests, mountainous areas and unpolluted air.

Thai tourism operators say sustainability will be key as this area opens up with ecotourism the focus.

The new state-of-the-art international passenger terminal cost $AU62.6 million and has capacity for four million passengers a year.

At present, three airlines - Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air - fly to Nakhon Si Thammarat, all from Bangkok. The opening of the new international terminal will begin a roll out of direct, scheduled flights from Asian markets including Singapore, China, Taiwan and Malaysia.

“It is a significant moment in the history of one of Thailand’s most compelling destinations,” said Ravi Chandran, former CEO of Laguna Phuket and executive director of Urasaya (below), a luxury beachfront development in Sichon.

“With the new terminal geared for international travellers offering direct access, it not only reaffirms the existing domestic access from Bangkok, just like better known destinations such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, but a future that will see an increase in tourism investment and higher visitor numbers.”

The project is a central component of Nakhon Si Thammarat’s strategy to attract a new generation of experience-seeking international travellers.

Ecotourism is a key sector for the province, which is home to 200km of mountain ranges and 200km of beaches.

I’m very excited about the opening of the airport,” said Sichon-native Benjapop Benjathammatorn, owner of Sichon Cabana Resort. “It will provide greatly improved access and an opportunity for international travellers to explore the active, healthy lifestyle we are focused providing across the destination.”

The launch of Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport forms part of the Thai government’s Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) project, which aims to transform Thailand’s southern provinces into a major economic hub.

The new airport could soon be complemented by a road bridge to the popular island of Koh Samui, which is just a short distance offshore.

See https://urasaya.property

 

 

Sichon project to champion "tranquil tourism"

Even regular visitors to Thailand might never have heard of Sichon - but that might change soon.

While the region is set for some tourism development, locals hope it will never be another Phuket or Koh Samui.

The new international terminal at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport - about 610 km south of Bangkok, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula - is due to open later this year and tourism operators aim to maintain Sichon's "charms, adventure, nature, and sustainability."

The aim to promote "tranquil tourism" in the southern Thailand region despite the imminent arrival of international flights.

It is hoped travellers will be able to explore the authentic cultural and natural heritage of the region and former Laguna Phuket CEO Ravi Chandran is one of those who sees huge potential in the destination.

Sichon is a place where Buddhists pay their respects in ancient temples, fishermen pull their catches up onto the beach and artisans work looms to weave materials dyed by natural colours derived from local fruits.

Sichon has been recognised by Lonely Planet as one of the best 10 beaches in Thailand.

Chandran, a senior advisor to Urasaya, a residential and hospitality development concept which will be unveiled on Sichon beach in the coming months, says he wants to see carefully-managed, eco-conscious, locally-inspired tourism.

“Sichon is quite something," he says. "Far from the tourist crowds, this is life in southern Thailand as it was 30 years ago - naturally beautiful, culturally authentic and perfectly peaceful.

"This is the Thailand visitors want to see and it is somewhere people will want to live.

“I really think that this is a new beginning for the south of Thailand and it is a chance to get it right first go - by embracing a future defined by heritage, nature and sustainability.”

The provincial capital, also called Nakhon Si Thammarat, is one of Thailand’s oldest cities with a history that dates back over 1,200 years.

There are no current direct flights from Australia but access initially will be via Singapore, Malaysia, and China. Stay tuned.