Floating pier planned at Sirinat National Park to ease Phuket airport road traffic

A floating pier is planned at Sirinat National Park in Phuket to provide air travellers with a sea transport option to and from nearby Phuket International Airport, as authorities look for ways to reduce congestion on the island’s roads.

The proposal was raised during a visit to the park on Sunday by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin. He reviewed development plans for Sirinat National Park aimed at supporting eco-tourism and encouraging community participation through tourism initiatives that meet safety and environmental standards.

According to the minister, the local fish market and the proposed floating pier site are being considered as part of plans to develop the park into a transport and tourism hub for the Andaman coast.

Sirinat National Park covers about 90 square kilometres and lies about 30 kilometres north of Phuket town on the road to the airport.

Mr Suchart said the pier could help address Phuket’s chronic traffic congestion by offering an alternative sea route to coastal destinations. He said travellers moving between Patong Beach and Phuket International Airport often face heavy traffic that can stretch the journey to one or even two hours.

A floating pier at the park could provide a faster route by sea, reduce pressure on the road network and allow visitors to travel along Phuket’s west coast.

Mr Suchart also said Sirinat National Park had strong potential for tourism development.

Asked about land encroachment cases in the park, he said authorities had already reclaimed several illegally occupied plots and that legal proceedings were under way.

He said some land buyers may have been misled by invalid title documents, but stressed that all parties must be subject to the same laws.

“We live in Thailand and must respect Thai law. Ultimately, those who encroach on forests, beaches, or coastal areas will be left with nothing, because these are national assets," Mr Suchart said. "It is the Ministry’s duty to reclaim them, restore order, and return them to the people so they can be used sustainably for generations to come.”