Phu Kradueng cable car edges closer

Locals look forward to visitor earnings, but activists are still sceptical, writes Apinya Wipatayotin

- Apinya Wipatayotin

The long-debated cable car project in Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei province, has once again come under public scrutiny, raising concerns about its alignment with sustainable development goals.

Critics argue the project reflects a broader pattern of government-backed megaprojects that risk exploiting natural resources in the name of tourism development.

The issue resurfaced late last month after the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) granted a two-year extension for a feasibility study of a proposed cable car.

This followed the Budget Bureau's approval of a 25.7-million-baht allocation for the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) to proceed with the project's design phase.

LENGTHY HISTORY

The Phu Kradueng cable car project was first proposed in 1982. Since then, multiple feasibility studies have been conducted by academic and private agencies.

In 2004, the government under then prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, asked Dasta to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study, identifying a potential route and submitting recommendations to the cabinet.