Despite the change in government, the Phu Kradueng cable car project is expected to proceed as scheduled and be completed by late 2027 or early 2028, as construction design firms have already been contracted, according to the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta).
Dasta director Siripakorn Cheawsamoot said the long-awaited cable car project is proceeding as planned.
Tesco Limited and Chulalongkorn University signed the contract for construction design with a 20-million-baht budget on Sept 30, covering Oct 1, 2025 to June 27, 2026.
Mr Siripakorn said more than five contractors proposed bids.
Tesco was selected because of its expertise in laying high-voltage poles and experience in working with both the public and private sectors, he said.
Chulalongkorn University is set to supervise the government regulations and is studying the project’s potential impact.
The study and design masterplan should be ready to propose to the cabinet for approving the construction by late 2026.
The construction cost is estimated at 1 billion baht, handling 32 cabins with eight people per car along the 4.4-kilometre route.
The cable car project will help improve waste and tourism management at Phu Kradueng National Park, while the limit of daily visitors would still be restricted to no more than 5,000, he said.
At present, there are 80,000 annual visitors or an average of 200 visitors a day at the park.
Phu Kradueng National Park welcomed 64,687 visitors in 2025, earning 5.38 million baht in revenue.
Over 83% of visitors were under 40 and most of them chose to stay overnight.
Mr Siripakorn said the cable car could help increase tourist spending in Loei to over 3,600 baht per trip, from 2,500 baht today.
The Loei Chamber of Commerce urged related authorities to plan ahead for the post-opening, such as hiring experts to manage the cable car, and increasing the budget for national park officers.
It needs to improve transport from other districts to Phu Kradueng.
TOP 100 DESTINATION
Dasta is also drafting plans to enhance tourism in Chiang Khan, as the community was listed among 10 Thai destinations in the “Green Destinations Top 100 Stories Awards 2025”.
Channarong Wongla, secretary of Hug Chiang Khan community, said the group aims to promote its fishery and agricultural activities as well as raise awareness about environmental impact on the Mekong River.
For a decade, the Mekong River has withered due to dam constructions in China and Laos.
Fish species were reduced to fewer than 50 from more than 115, affecting fishery jobs in Chiang Khan.
Fishermen have adapted by pivoting to tourism as an alternative revenue source, offering boat tours and learning activities. Dasta helped them by building the riverfront area and learning space for tourists.
In fiscal 2024, the community welcomed over 3,700 tourists, generating 447,209 baht revenue.
In fiscal 2025, which ended in September, it served only 2,401 visitors, but earned higher revenue of 521,780 baht.
Chiang Khan fishery community is among the 11 designated tourism communities in Loei under the supervision of the Dasta.
In 2025, all destinations posted a total of 10.5 million baht revenue, a 27.1% increase year-on-year, from 46,527 visitors.