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Published on February 7, 2008

A Chinese investment group has just leased a plot of land on the Lao side of the border with a view to developing a casino. To get to the casino, travellers will need to use Chiang Rai Airport, the only one in the area.

"When the casino has been fully developed the airport expects to see many tourists and businessmen, which will benefit the airport with its location nearby," AOT official Pratueng Sornkham, the director of Chiang Rai Airport, said yesterday.

It seems tourists have to date paid less attention to Chiang Rai than to Chiang Mai, he added.

However, a source from the AOT said a casino was not acceptable in Thai society, so Chiang Rai Airport officials should be more careful with their promotional plans.

Suratas Suthammanas, AOT executive vice president for business development, added that Chiang Rai Airport was now using the Aviation Marketing Incentive Programme marketing plan by focusing on a reduction in airport fees

for both domestic and international flights.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation