One other thing I that got me excited to set foot in Bangkok again was to see for myself their much hyped and new international airport. If anything, I was floored and wowed. It's architecture is amazingly modern and yet it has touches of the rich Thai culture in key places. Its construction had been beset with challenges here and there, I've learned, but the airport finally came through and I'd dare say the benefits must be worth the wait for the Thai nationals and its government.There is more to having a world class international airport than the obvious comfort it gives to travelers to and from a country. Carefully planning its location, accessibility, construction, and architecture can boost a nation's economy, rake in jobs, and gain trust of more foreign investors. I remember a senior HR person from another company asking their company's regional head why they had to resource training services elsewhere when their Philippine counterpart is more than ready to take on the job owing to an already ready local talent base. The regional head's answer was simple: "you guys do not even have a decent international airport that is convenient enough to fly in trainees regularly!" Sadly, as you must have already seen NAIA, such is our unfortunate plight.As a backgrounder on the (New) Bangkok International Airport aka Suvarnabhumi Airport:
The airport has become a key economic strength for the nation, as a modern motorway connects the airport, Bangkok, and the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard of Thailand, where most of the export oriented manufacturing takes place. Despite little media attention paid to cargo, around the clock cargo shipments with excellent connections for exporters was a significant reason for its construction (as lobbying by Japanese exporters and Japanese government support were major facilitators), and the export led recovery of the Thai baht and the nation's strong current account surplus since its opening is further evidence of its massive effect. -Wikipedia
As an end note to the government, please PLEASE get your asses in gear and LEARN from other nations. Copying best practice is nothing to be ashamed of.Below are photos I took inside the Suvarnabhumi Airport the night of my departure for Manila.
