Thailand plans 459m-high tourism landmark

[Chittychangchang]

Thailand is planning construction of a 459-metre-high observation tower in Bangkok as the country's new landmark and tallest building.

The Thai cabinet has approved the construction of a tower estimated to cost 4.6 billion baht ($A178 million), but the timeline of the construction has not yet been determined, said government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

'This will be Thailand's new tourism landmark' Sansern said, noting it will be 'without a commercial purpose.'

'There will be no shops and the profits made from entry fee will be donated to charity,' he added.

The towering structure, to be built near the bank of the Chao Phraya River, which runs through Bangkok, will mainly feature galleries showcasing social development projects initiated by the late king Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in October and other things about Thailand.

The entry fee will be 750 baht for non-Thai visitors. The fee will be halved for Thai citizens, Sansern said.

Funding will be raised from private financial institutions and businesses and will not involve government budgets, he added.

When completed, the tower will surpass MahaNakhon, Thailand's currently tallest building, at 314 metres. It will also be Southeast Asia's second-tallest building, after Malaysia's Petronas Towers.

Thailand plans 459m-high tourism landmark

[sabang]

Corruption alarm bells after Bt4.6-bn tower project exempted from bidding

THE ANTI-CORRUPTION Organisation of Thailand (ACT) yesterday called on relevant authorities to investigate the Bangkok Observatory Tower project.

ACT secretary-general Mana Nimitmongkol said the Budget Bureau, the Office of the Auditor-General and the National Anti-Corruption Commission should launch an investigation before damage is inflicted.

“I suspect that the project will be carried out in favour of private enterprises at the expense of the nation,” he said.

Mana spoke out after assistant government spokesman Colonel Atisit Chaiyanuwat disclosed that the Cabinet had exempted the project from bidding to speed up the project.

“Bidding should take place to ensure transparency,” he said.

Speaking separately, Atisit said private investors would fund the tower project.

He also backtracked from his earlier statement that the 459-metre-high tower would cost Bt7.6 billion, bringing that figure down to Bt4.6 billion

Atisit also said the project only needed Cabinet approval because it would be developed on a plot of land belonging to the Finance Ministry’s Treasury Department. Located in Bangkok’s Klong San district, the plot is located on the Chao Phraya River.

“The 30-year land lease comes with a rental fee of Bt198 million,” Atisit said.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who heads the State Enterprise Policy Office, insisted that the tower project had won approval from relevant authorities and proceeded in line with regulations.

“We can decide on whether to require bidding,” he said.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha also stood by the project.

“The tower will be a new landmark in Bangkok. It will house a museum about Thailand’s history and monarchy,” he said.

Chatri Prakitnonthakan, a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture Silpakorn University, said the tower project showed a lack of transparency on many levels.

“In this project, developers get rights to develop this public land without passing the proper procedures of official bidding. In addition, these investors also pay a rent to the government at a very cheap rate of around Bt6 million per year, despite this land having very high value,” Chatri said.

He also commented on the lack of public involvement in the “top-down” project. Being a landmark built on public land, citizens should be able to play a part at the design stage, he said.
Corruption alarm bells after Bt4.6-bn tower project exempted from bidding


In the interest of Transparency, two very obvious questions-
1- Who are the Investors?
2- Who is the Developer, and who is the prime building contractor?

In the interests of idle curiosity, will Bangkok be gifted with yet another sky bar, and will it have a view of all the other sky bars?

[chassamui]

Pie in the sky. Perhaps LT could open a franchise there?

[sabang]

He'd probably end up eating humble pie, if he threw his lot in with those sharks.

[taxexile]

at 4.6 billion, to break even they would need over 6,000,000 visitors.

even at as many as 1000 visitors a day, it would take around 20 years to break even.


this silly project will never get off the ground.

[Seekingasylum]

They'd be much better off paying the chaps who did the London Eye to erect something similar next to the river. I personally detest these cheap carnival gimmicks that ruin the cityscape with their tattiness and my heart sinks every time I see it in London but the punters do like it.

[Passing Through]

will mainly feature galleries showcasing social development projects initiated by the late king Bhumibol Adulyadej....

The entry fee will be 750 baht for non-Thai visitors

I admire their optimism.

[tomcat]

The entry fee will be 750 baht for non-Thai visitors. The fee will be halved for Thai citizens, Sansern said

fee based on IQ then...

[CaptainNemo]

Perhaps they can build the world's tallest casino?

[baldrick]

short the SET near completion time

[Thai3]

We have a more modest tower just built in samut prakan, will get a good view over the river when they finish it. I would not pay to go up baiyoke tower and not this one either

[Seekingasylum]

I can't recall paying to ascend the Baiyoke Tower. Usually, one eats and has a drink ij the restaurant there which pays the rent, so to speak.

[Digby Fantona]

You pay your money, whizz up in the lift, get a "free drink", look out of the windows and whizz down again. I enjoyed.

[misskit]

PM assures tower project is funded by private sector

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha yesterday assured that the Bangkok Observation Tower project would be funded by the private sector and no government budget would be allocated to fund it’s construction

Gen Prayut’s assurance came as academics and civic groups demanded clarification why the tower project is to go ahead without open bidding while casting doubt that certain private enterprises may benefit.

The prime minister said the 4.6 billion baht tower project would be developed with funds from the private sector without any use of the government budget.

However he said a committee would be set up to manage the project.

Gen Prayut recalled that the project was not a new project but emerged a long time ago.

The government has foreseen the benefit of the project as it could be a landmark of Bangkok and the general public can enjoy the scenic view of the capital.

He went on explaining that inside the tower would be a museum exhibiting the Thai history and the royal family.

He assured no comercial activities would be inside which would benefit any particular group.

PM assures tower project is funded by private sector - Thai PBS English News

[Thai3]

would not want to live anywhere near it if Thai builders are putting it up

[sabang]

project would be developed with funds from the private sector without any use of the government budget.

Except for the fact that the land is being leased for a fraction of it's market value. If that isn't a subsidy, I don't know what is.

[Thai3]

This is ours, not really tall enough, but we got a copy of big Ben as well

[jabir]

Perhaps they can build the world's tallest casino?

Makes sense.

[harrybarracuda]

will mainly feature galleries showcasing social development projects initiated by the late king Bhumibol Adulyadej....

The entry fee will be 750 baht for non-Thai visitors

I admire their optimism.

I doubt it's optimism, they couldn't give a shit about anything but the truckload of cake tins shortly to be heading their way.

They'll say any old shit to make it sound worthwhile.

[Maanaam]

at 4.6 billion, to break even they would need over 6,000,000 visitors.

even at as many as 1000 visitors a day, it would take around 20 years to break even.


this silly project will never get off the ground.

Then there's rent of the land. As it's government land, the lease has to be shown to be a fair market rate.
Then there's word of mouth and tourism reports; "750 baht to go up into a cloud of smog and see less than 1 km of the city".

I think your 20 year estimate is very very optimistic.

[Farang Ky Ay]

Considering you can already have a good view from the Bayoke tower top, with a buffet for 50% of this price (3 years ago)..unless they forbid any other rooftops in the city I can't see how they would reach their commercial goal. But who cares, it's all about launching a project, not being sustainable.

There's no commercial venues on the site, but I also read that on the adjacent plot a mall is already planned so private sector would benefit from this project.

[thaimeme]

at 4.6 billion, to break even they would need over 6,000,000 visitors.

even at as many as 1000 visitors a day, it would take around 20 years to break even.


this silly project will never get off the ground.

Another accepted white elephant project.

[misskit]

Bangkok Observation Tower to be finished and open to visitors in 3 years

Construction of the 4.6 billion baht Bangkok Observation Tower will be finished and open to visitors in three years.

Assurance of the completion of the project which is set to be the world’s sixth highest observation tower was given after the director-general of the Treasury Department Mr Pachorn Ananta-Silpa took media representatives to a visit the site of the planned Bangkok Observation Tower Friday (June 30).

Location of the tower is the secluded purblind 4 rai plot of land located along the Chao Phraya River on the Thonburi side in Klongsan district.

The plot is a royal property and managed by the Treasury Department. The current market value for the 4 rai plot is 198 million baht and formerly housed the headquarters of the Marine Police Division.

The cabinet only recently agreed to lease it to private enterprises so that the Bangkok Observation Tower project could go ahead.

According to Mr Pachon, the 459 metres high tower will become a new attraction for the capital and will be highest in Thailand and Southeast Asia and the sixth highest in the world.

He said besides affording visitors with a 360-degree vantage from which to view Bangkok, a museum showcasing Thailand’s rich history and its divine and benevolent Kings will also be presented.

Entrance ticket sales alone will be able to generate no less than 1 billion baht in revenues annually and the project will also contribute to employment and income for the local community which is made up of old settlements such as the Suwan Mosque community whose residents have readily given their approval for the project.

A local Muslim resident said all the residents in the community wanted to see the project go ahead. After the Marine Police left, the plot was left derelict.

She said the Bangkok Observation Tower will change all that.

“Everyone here wants it to be constructed because it will be dedicated to our beloved King Bhumibhol Adulyadej and will tell the history of our monarchy. We wholeheartedly support the project,” she said.

Mr Pachon said the project will be overseen by a special committee to ensure that it is transparent and complies with private-public joint venture law.

He said further that the main aim was to benefit the country’s tourism sector and generate income which will then be used to support public projects. That is why it was decided that the Treasury would select the contractor who will work out all the construction costs.

The 30 year lease alone will contribute to almost 200 million baht in revenues for the state but financing and management cost will be handled by a private entity designated as the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation.

The financing will be managed in the form of a foundation where there will be no dividends paid out.

“This is our condition. All income will belong to the foundation and will be used only for community projects and public convenience.”

Iconsiam Group has been selected to handle the project and is made up of 3 main companies which are Siam Piwat Co. Ltd., Magnolia Quality Development Corp. and Charoen Pokphand Group.

Bangkok Observation Tower to be finished and open to visitors in 3 years - Thai PBS English News

[Thai3]

Looks horrible so far

[Warwick]

Iconsiam Group has been selected to handle the project and is made up of 3 main companies which are Siam Piwat Co. Ltd., Magnolia Quality Development Corp. and Charoen Pokphand Group.

3 main companies? MQDC is the property arm of CP Group