The 1,325-meter-high mountain is part of the Phetchabun Mountain Range in Loei Province. At present, tourists who wish to go to the top have to make a fairly arduous 5.5km trek to get there. General Patimapragorn noted that a cable-car would allow less physically fit Thai people to enjoy the magnificent vistas from the plateau on top of the mount.
The general continued by saying cable-cars would be useful in the case of medical emergencies. He finished off by saying the blueprint had been given to the Environmental Impact Evaluation Agency, but claimed this should be a formality as the project did not require any trees to be felled. Once the agency gives the green light, the system would take a maximum of three years to install.
Phu Kradueng is a favourite with domestic tourists who visit for the views and the almost wintry weather in December and January. Many bring tents with them so they can stay overnight and witness the most amazing sunrises. Not everybody is in favour of a new cable-car however. The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation says such a feature would diminish the value of getting close to nature.
Thai tourism bureau sets sights on cable car for Mt Kradueng
News in Asia
The Minister in charge of Thailand’s tourism bureau has announced a plan
to build a cable-car system to one of the nation’s most popular
mountain tops. Thanasak Patimapragorn is also the deputy PM and he says it would offer
an easy means of reaching the summit of Phu Kradueng and would attract more
tourists.