An up-beat forecast from the up-beat manager of Pattaya airport. Pattaya airport? I hear you cry. Pattaya doesn't have an airport, I wish it did then I wouldn't have to take a sometimes 2 hour ride to Suvanaphum Bangkok airport.
Of course those in the know know of the existence of what is known as U-tapao International airport. Just a thirty minute drive, with a good tailwind down the Sukhumvit Road towards Sattahip. International Airport is not quite what I would describe it but it does have a long runway that 50 years ago saw American bombers take off to bomb the Russian and Chinese backed communist armies of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Nowadays the bombers are all but gone, I am sure the occasional one still drops by to restock on fuel rather than restock with bombs but the Russians and Chinese are still a high priority for airport administrators.
Charter flights from The former Soviet Union and the still communist run red giant China bring in hordes of commies and former commies every day. Yes the number of flights from Russia has decreased lately, says the airport manager, wiping a tear from one eye. The rouble is in the crapper but hey it's cold in Siberia at this time of year and the future is bright. The Russian's may be chilling out in local hot spots like Chernobyl But you can always depend on the Chinese. China the biggest economy in the world whose citizens are eager to travel and taste the delights of the world, as long as there is a Chinese restaurant available for the strictly controlled tour groups to partake of the local culture and cuisine.
So the manager of U-tapao International airport is right to be upbeat. He can stake his job on a regular flow of 20 to 25 charter flights a day with an average of 250 passengers per flight paying airport taxes, buying duty free souvenirs and bargain basement airport refreshments.
Of course a selected few Chinese restaurants in Pattaya, budget hotels and the Russian tourist hot spots like the seven eleven stores on beach road are rubbing their corporate hands. The rest of Pattaya businesses are just left to reminisce of those good old days of 40 years back when Tourist dollars were real dollars spent by real tourists looking for a really good time with some really sexy girls in a little known beach resort that happened to be called Pattaya.
