TRANG — Residents have voiced disappointment over the decline of Trang Andaman Gateway, a 35-million-baht tourism project that was once promoted as a landmark attraction but has since become increasingly quiet and fallen into disrepair.
Locals said the site, located along Highway No. 4 between Trang and Phatthalung on Khao Phap Pha in Chong subdistrict, Na Yong district, has seen a sharp drop in visitor numbers despite serving as the main route linking Thailand’s Andaman coast with the Gulf of Thailand.
The attraction was developed under the provincial development plan with a budget of 35 million baht and officially opened in mid-2015.
During its early years, the site attracted large numbers of visitors, particularly during holiday periods when daily arrivals reportedly reached 3,000 people. Tourists frequently stopped to take photographs and enjoy the scenic mountain views.
However, residents said visitor numbers have steadily declined in recent years, while facilities have begun to deteriorate. On some days, the attraction appears almost abandoned despite heavy traffic passing through the area.
The project includes a royal commemorative highway pavilion for southern Thailand, a tourist service center, and various sculptures depicting local cultural and natural heritage, including Khao Phap Pha murals, Sakai (Maniq) indigenous figures, elephant herds, dugongs and Trang’s iconic tuk-tuks.
The site also features landscaped gardens with native southern plants, nature trails, lighting systems, restrooms, roads and parking facilities.
Following complaints from residents and tourists, Krititchai Pakichan, MP for Trang’s 3rd constituency from the Democrat Party, visited the site for an inspection.
He described the attraction as a scenic location suitable for motorists seeking a rest stop, noting that it includes nature study trails, 3D artwork, a miniature monument to Phraya Ratsadanupradit and other features.
Despite its potential, he acknowledged the site’s lack of visitors and said he would raise the issue in Parliament in an effort to find solutions and restore the attraction’s appeal.