Thailand has developed its economy and society in accordance with National Economic and Social Development Plans from the first to the present one, the 9th National Plan (2002-2006).
At present, Thailand is recognized as a country with modern transport and communications systems. This is a result of continued efforts of the government, as well as its strategic location, ideal for development as a transport and communications hub in the region. This advantageous geographical position supports the aim of the government to develop the transport and communications systems in Thailand, such as highway networks, railways, international airports, ports, and telecommunication networks in order to fulfill the demands of the public.
Road Transport
Road Transport is the major infrastructure of national transportation system playing an important role to serve the road users with supreme convenience, speediness, safety and fine scenery. The development of highway also enhances economic growth, social and political development as well as the stability of the country. Because of the capability of providing door-to-door services, highway networks have been continually developed each year.
The highway systems in Thailand, with the total length more than 255,000 kilometers, are divided into five categories as follow: Special Highway, National Highway, Concession Highway, Municipal
Highway, and Rural Highway. More than 40 percent of the highway network are asphaltic and concrete pavement, which are sufficient to serve people in every part of Thailand to a certain extent.
In the domestic highway development project, there are two outstanding projects, including Inter-City Motorway Development Project and Four-Lane Highways Construction Project. The latter comprises 2 phases: Phase I (4 routes connecting from Bangkok to border of all regions - with the total length of 1,891 kilometres) and Phase II (11 highway networks connecting from northern to southern region and from eastern to western region - with the total length of 5,137 kilometres).
In the international cooperation aspect, the government of Thailand has been making collaboration on the regional highway development programs for more than a decade. Thailand has performed the leading role to develop and support the highway networks connecting neighboring countries in many programmes, such as Greater Mekong Sub-region Cooperation (GMS), ASEAN Highway Development Project, Indonesia - Malaysia - Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), Thailand - Myanmar - India Transport Linkage Cooperation and other bilateral cooperation programs.
One of the many outstanding programmes is the Greater Mekong Sub-region Cooperation.Under this programme, the highway network of Thailand will connect the neighboring countries through four routes as follow:
- R1 Bangkok (Thailand) ΓÇö Phnom Penh (Cambodia) ΓÇö Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) ΓÇö Vung Tao (Vietnam) Route
- R2 East ΓÇö West Corridor Route: Da Nang (Vietnam) ΓÇö Savannakhet (Laos) ΓÇö Mukdahan (Thailand) ΓÇö Yangon (Myanmar)
- R3 Thailand ΓÇö Kunming (China) Routes via Laos (R3A) and Myanmar (R3B)
- R10 Southern Coastal Corridor Route:
Trat (Thailand) ΓÇö Koh Kong (Cambodia) ΓÇö Sihanoukville (Cambodia) ΓÇö Ca Mau (Vietnam)
According to the appearance of many cooperation programmes, The government of Thailand expects that this region will develop the highway network with an acceptable standard to facilitate the transportation of goods and people among ASEAN members and other countries. This will create the good relationship and the amicable coordination amongst regional countries, as a result, that disclose the new face of regional economic system and improve the quality of life of people in the region.
Besides building road transport infrastructure, Thailand has also concluded several international road transport agreements with its neighbour countries. The aim of these agreements is to reduce non-physical barriers, such as, out of date regulations that are impediment to international road transport and trade. The agreements aim to facilitate road transport between Thailand and her neighbours with a view to creating a safe, reliable and cost efficient road transport network connecting not only ASEAN and GMS countries together but the entire region with the global community. These agreements, inter alia, are: Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of Malaysia on the Movement in Transit of Perishable Goods by Road from Thailand through Malaysia to Singapore, done at Bangkok, on 24 November 1979; Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licenses Issued by ASEAN countries 1985; Agreement on the Recognition of Commercial Vehicle Inspection Certificates for Goods Vehicles and Public Service Vehicles Issued by ASEAN Member Countries 1998;ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit, done at Hanoi, on 16 December 1998;Agreement Between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Road Transport, done at Bangkok on 5 March 1999; Subsidiary Agreement Specifying Road Transport Arrangements between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic 2001; Agreement between and among the Governments of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet nam for Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Goods and People done at Vientiane on 26 November 1999 (GMS Cross-Border Agreement).
Rail Transport
The rail transport system has been known in Thailand since 1887 and in 1890 the Royal State Railway of Siam was established as a department of the Government. The first line was commenced in 1892 from Bangkok ΓÇö Ayutthaya. In 1951, it became a State Enterprise organization by the State Railway of Thailand Act B.E.2494(1951). It is the second most important mode after road transport. The route length of its entire network is approximately 4,000 kilometres. The major routes of rail transport are as follows:
- Southern Route: Bangkok ΓÇö Sungai Kolok, 1,143 kilometres.
For the Bangkok Metropolitan area, concessions for rail transport construction (MTS) have been granted to the private sector and some are already in operation:
- The Bangkok Transit System (BTS),an elevated mass rapid transit,started its operation on 5 December 1999. It comprises two routes: the Sukhumvit Route (14 kilometres) and the Silom Route (9 kilometres), converging at the Central Station on Rama 1 Road. It is planned to extend both routes in the near future.
- The Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT), The first phase of theUnderground transit system of the MRT is the Blue Line(22 Kilometres) to operate along the Rama IV Road ΓÇö Rachadapisek Road ΓÇö Lad Prao Road ΓÇö Phaholyothin Road route, which will connect with the BTS System. This system is expected to begin operation by 2004. According to the Transport Master Plan, two more MRT lines will be constructed, namely the Blue Line ( Extended Section) and the Orange Line.
- The construction of Bangkok Elevated Road and Rail System (BERTS) on Rangsit ΓÇö Yommarat ΓÇö Huamark Route is abandoned. The study of this project had been reviewed for downsizing in order to achieve optimum investment. The construction of elevated railway track will be implemented soon.
Recognizing its great capacity, low cost of operation and less harmful effect on the environment, the government has set a policy to emphasize rail transport development. To cope with the growing demand for transport within the country and to promote rail links with neighboring countries, the government plans to launch several projects including the construction of four new rail routes connecting the existing ones. One route will originate in Bua Yai and terminate in Nakhon Phanom, while another will link Map Ta Phut and Rayong. The third route will lie between Den Chai and Chiang Rai, whilst the last line will connect Surat Thani and Phang-nga. Moreover, the government also plans to develop the double-track rail system nationwide. In the initial stage, a double-track route will be constructed on the outskirts of Bangkok totalling about 250 kilometres. After the completion of this construction, the rail transport in these areas will be more efficient and can fulfil the demands of the public.
Turning to the international rail transport system, Thailand has a rail network connecting with that of Malaysia. Passengers can travel by train from Bangkok to Butterworth ΓÇö Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and then to Singapore. Moreover, containerized landbridge train service between Port Klang in Malaysia and ICD at Lat Krabang in Bangkok and vice versa have been launched since 1999. Railway Link to the Mekong River Bridge in Nong Khai Project is completed on Thai side. It is expected that the construction on Laos Side will be implemented in the near future to increase the efficiency and convenience of flow of goods and people between Thailand and Lao PDR . In addition, the following projects connecting the domestic rail network with international ones will facilitate transportation and travel within ASEAN, ESCAP and GMS member countries :
- ASEANΓÇÖs Singapore ΓÇö Kunming Rail Link
- ESCAPΓÇÖs Trans ΓÇö Asian Railway in the Southern Corridor (Asia ΓÇö Europe Routes )
- ThailandΓÇÖs construction of five railway routes:
The government has set a policy to promote Thailand as a transportation hub in the region. It is expected that rail transport will be reinvigorated to become a more important mode for domestic and international transport in this region.
International Sea Transport
Among all modes of transport, maritime transport has played a crucial role in ThailandΓÇÖs international trade as 80 ΓÇö 90% of the trade volume are transported by sea. At present, Thailand has five major ports serving international maritime transport, namely, Bangkok Port, Laem Chabang Port, Songkhla Port, Phuket Port and Map Ta Phut Port. In addition, there are approximately 120 private ports and wharves capable of accommodating sea-going vessels registered with the Marine Department, most of which are situated along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok and its vicinity and along the southern and eastern coasts of Thailand. Dry bulk and liquid cargo, which constitute a large proportion of ThailandΓÇÖs international trade, are mostly handled at private ports while most containerized cargo, which account for approximately 90% of general cargo, are handled at Bangkok and Laem Chabang Ports. These major ports are well connected with superb inland transport network and infrastructure and supported by modern off-dock facilities.
The government has a policy to develop and expand Laem Chabang Port, Songkhla Port and Phuket Port in order to serve the increasing vessel, cargo and passenger traffic. In particular, Laem Chabang Port, which was designed to accommodate Post Panamax vessels, has been positioned as the gateway for the Indo-China sub-region. Songkhla Port and Phuket Port, located on the east and west coasts of southern region respectively, have been developed primarily as major ports on the east coast (Gulf of Thailand) and west coast (Andaman Sea) in the southern region of Thailand to serve international sea cargo originated in or destined for the region.
Currently, the government has a plan to construct a new port in the southern region of Thailand in Satun Province as a centre of west-coast sea linkage under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) sub-regional economic cooperation project. Songkhla Port, which is being developed and expanded, will also be included in this project as another node of sea linkage on the east coast of the southern region. Moreover, Ranong Port will also be further developed to accommodate vessels of 5,000 ΓÇö 8,000 gross tonnage and be a centre of sea linkage for the transportation of cargo to Myanmar, Bangladesh and India.
Inland Waterway Transport
Thailand has two main rivers that can be utilized as domestic and subregional transportation routes, namely the Chao Phraya River - passing through the central and northern part of Thailand, 1,700 kilometres in length, and the Mekong river--passing through six countries in this sub--regional starting from Southern China, through Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and ending in Vietnam, 4,880 kilometres in length. Under the quadrangle economic cooperation between China (Yunnan), Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand, the four countries agreed to open up the Lancang-Mekong River for commercial navigation among the four countries.The quadrapartite agreement on this matter became effective in 2001.The construction of two ports along this river, at Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong, to help facilitate the traffic, is scheduled for completion in mid 2003. The government also has a policy to establish a special economic zone for the northern area in Chiang Rai, and in order to serve the expected growing traffic in this region, the government plans to construct a second port in Chiang Saen.
Air Transport
Bangkok is currently considered an aviation and tourism hub for the Southeast Asian region. Bangkok International Airport plays a major role in international aviation together with the four other international airports situated in major cities, namely Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, and Phuket. Presently under construction, the New Bangkok International Airport (NBIA) is meant to replace the current Bangkok International Airport and will be developed to become a regional aviation hub. The NBIA the official name of which is ΓÇ£ Suvarnabhumi AirportΓÇ¥ is meant to replace the current Bangkok International Airport and will be developed to become a regional aviation hub. His Majesty the King has graciously named this new airport ΓÇ£SuvarnabhumiΓÇ¥ which means ΓÇ£ Golden LandΓÇ¥ is expected to begin operation in 2005. At the initial stage, it will be able to serve approximately 45 million passengers per year and up to 100 million passengers when completed.
With regard to international and regional air transport, Thailand has two designated airlines namely Thai Airways International and Angel Airlines. Moreover, there are several privately owned airlines which provide air services at regional and domestic levels, comprising Bangkok Airways, Air Andaman, Phuket Air and PB Air. For non-scheduled services, there are six operators, providing short distance travel by fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.Such activities would promote Thailand as a tourist first stop in Southeast Asia.
Apart from carrying passengers, Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways International also provide air cargo services. In particular, the THAI Cargo worldwide route net covers 73 cities in 35 countries on four continents, with more than 350 flights each week to key cities in Europe, Australia, and North America, 36 Asian cities, and 15 towns in Thailand.
The formation of the Star Alliance in 1997, founded by THAI, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines and Air Canada, has proved to be the largest airline alliance in the history of commercial aviation. Now the alliance has risen to greater heights : with the addition of 9 member airlines ΓÇö Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Tyrolean Airlines, Lauda Airline, Varig Brazilian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Mexicana Airlines and British Midland. Together, this group of airlines offers the most comprehensive global travel network with exceptional seamless travel benefits. For more information about THAI, please refer to www.thaiairways.com
Communications
Because of its vital role in the development of the country, the government has turned to focus more on communications infrastructure investments, as evidenced in the 6th National Economic and Social Development Plan ten years ago when Thailand was enjoying great success in the areas of economy, trade and investment. International trade in particular has expanded considerably. Such success relies heavily on having a modern communications system.
The government, therefore, started to invest more in various telecommunications projects, i.e. the fixed and mobile network, the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), the ground and submarine optical fibre network, and the communications satellite network projects. Communications infrastructure in Thailand is partly provided by the public sector while the other part is through the private sector on a concession basis in the form of ΓÇ£Build-Transfer-OperateΓÇ¥ (BTO).
Benefiting from this development, Thailand is now capable of providing communications services comprising basic telephones and rural long-distance public telephone services covering most of the villages all over the country and all tourist attractions. New technology has also been included to provide various services, such as cellular mobile telephone, special leased line & circuit, paging service, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), video conference, PIN phone, card phone, datanet, internet, Personal Communications Phone (PCT), etc.
Furthermore, Thailand also has several telecommunications networks linking with other countries through the fibre optic submarine cable system, i.e. between Thailand-Malaysia (T-M), Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong (T-V-H), Southeast Asia-Middle East-West Europe 2 (SEA-ME-WE 2), Asia-Pacific Cable Network (APCN), etc.
Postal Service
Postal service is the most basic means of communications which has served the public since 1867. Despite other alternative means of communications, postal service is here to stay. As an essential part of the economy and society. Various forms of domestic and international postal services are provided to suit different demands of people and areas, namely letters, postcards and parcels, certified mail service, registration service, advice of delivery service and domestic and international express mail services. The quality of services is checked constantly. Modern technology is employed to improve the postal service and to meet the public demand.
Since the economy in this region has started to recover recently, long-term infrastructure projects are needed to facilitate the expansion of the economy, trade and investment in the country. The government has encouraged private sector participation in infrastructure investment in several forms, such as management contracts, leasing, concessions, and joint ventures with strategic partners. Moreover, the government also has a policy to privatize state enterprises in order to develop the quality and efficiency of their services and to increase competition in the business arena.
