Phu Kradueng National Park's upcoming electric cable car system is a project by the Thai government worth THB28 million (US$783,063.46).
The project was first proposed in 1996. Over the years, the government has been working to make this project a reality.
Back in 2012, the previous cabinet had approved the project proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Based on the proposal, the 1,288-metre-high mountain would be turned into a year-round tourist attraction for locals and tourists alike.
Voicing concerns.
Following the revival of the cable car project, the Seub Nakhasathien foundation voiced its concerns over the impacts on the national park.
The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation is a foundation established after the late Thai conservationist Seub Nakhasathien, who dedicated his life to conserving wildlife and nature.
The foundation voiced concerns about the ability of the national park to accommodate the fluctuating number of visitors.
Ornyupa Sangkamarn, the foundation’s secretary-general, also inquired whether the park, currently open to tourists for eight months of the year, would extend its accessibility to accommodate the cable car project.
“The attractions in Phu Kradueng are spread out, and it’s not easy to move from one point to another. How can we be sure there won’t be any additional projects after the cable car?” she said.
Overcrowding at a national park can lead to a series of issues, such as waste management and the preservation of the natural ecosystem.
The debate over this project's eco-friendliness has spanned decades, while the project itself has been continuously opposed by environmentalists.
IMAGE: Coconuts.
There are upsides too.
On the other side of the argument, the cable car has been suggested as an alternative mode of transportation for older people, which will allow them to visit the popular mountain attraction without having to walk for hours.
Samret Phusaensri, chief of the park, said it is open to the public from October to May annually. As many as 60,000 people visit the peak of the park each year.
To reach the peak, visitors will have to venture about seven kilometers uphill. That can take up to six hours or more!
In the fiscal year 2022, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) reported entrance fees totaling to THB21,109,995 (US$589,500.83 ) from Phu Kradueng.
Currently, the park’s capacity is limited to 2,000 visitors per day.
Where do we go from here?
On December 5, 2023, Puangpetch Chunla-iad, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, stated that the cable car project proposed by Loei province received preliminary approvals from the Cabinet.
Puangpetch revealed that THB28 million (US$783,063.46) was sought for the upcoming EIA study, adding that the project would aim to boost tourism income in response to local demand.
Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation told Thai PBS that he has granted permission for a team of officials to study the feasibility of the cable car project.
He admitted that he couldn't say for sure whether the project would ultimately be approved because it would depend on the collective decision of several parties concerned, as well as the outcome of the EIA.
When asked for a comment, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the Phu Kradueng cable car was a matter for brainstorming and joint consideration by all concerned.
Careful studies would be required because there were still conflicts of opinion about the project, with many still concerned about the environmental impact, he said.
The design study is expected to take about three months.
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