Bangkok Post, Thailand, Travel Column.

Byline: Imtiaz Muqbil

Aug. 4--The head of the country's first aerospace association has warned that an unbalanced approach to aviation development in Thailand would lead to a situation where the long-term pay-outs would exceed the revenues earned.

Sribhume Sukhanetr, a former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (now split in two) told a conference organised by the Asia Business Forum last week that while the government's aviation liberalisation and privatisation policies would certainly boost aircraft and passenger movements, equal attention had to be paid to associated/support industries and services like aircraft maintenance, spare parts and training.

Currently president of the Aerospace Industry Association of Thailand, Mr Sribhume urged the Thai government to take a more balanced, sustainable and long-term approach towards aviation development.

He said it was easy to create short-term success by adopting commercial policies, developing aviation hubs in Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok and allowing more airlines to start operations.

"Even though, we put a lot of effort in the three operations of air navigation, air transport and airport [development], without the design, manufacturing, maintenance and general aviation, it is fruitless," Mr Sribhume said.

"Those activities stand as foundations of the growth of aviation. We have to develop them on the basis of 'balanced growth' for the sustainable growth of the whole aviation industry."