Khao Yai National Park spreads across four provinces in eastern Thailand namely Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima and Saraburi; situated approximately 180 kilometres from Bangkok, Khao Yai is the second largest national park in Thailand and in 2005, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the larger Dong Phaya Yen–Khao Yai Forest Complex.

Khao Yai is known as the area where people from Bangkok come to enjoy nature, wildlife, diverse vegetation, as well as cooler weather and clearer air. This market pulse provides an overview of the tourism and hotel market in the area. This snapshot discusses recent tourism trends, market performance and hotel supply and pipeline.

Pak Chong is the largest district of Nakhon Ratchasima province and is home to Khao Yai National Park and Khao Yai, that is located on the Mittraphap road, the main road when travelling between Bangkok and Pak Chong district. The southern part of the district is the gateway to Khao Yai National Park via Thanarad road, known as the main road of Khao Yai.

Several hotels such as Sala Khao Yai, U Khao Yai, Kirimaya Golf Resort Spa KhaoYai, dusitD2 Khao Yai, Thames Valley Khao Yai, and Botanica Khao Yai are located in Pak Chong district. A number of food and beverage venues and other attractions such as waterparks, adventure theme parks, and golf courses are also situated in this area. Thus, Pak Chong district is perceived as one of Khao Yai’s main destinations for leisure activities.

Accessibility and Transportation

The main transportation mode between Khao Yai and Bangkok is motor vehicles via Mittrapharp road. It takes approximately 2.5 hours, depending on the traffic condition. Heavy traffic can be observed during weekends and public holidays. There are several infrastructure developments being planned in the area, which will reduce travelling time and enhance the travel experience to Khao Yai in the foreseeable future.

New Motorway M6

Source: Department of Highways

A new motorway project (the M6) is currently under construction, which begins in Bang Pa-In district of Ayutthaya province, and ends at the western part of Nakhon Ratchasima province, bypassing the Muang district. The M6 motorway is approximately 196 kilometres long, and it is expected to reduce the travelling time between Bangkok and Khao Yai by approximately one hour. The construction is scheduled for completion in 2020.

Khao Yai can also be accessed by the rail network. Currently, there are four trains daily serving between Bangkok and Muak Lek with a total travelling time of approximately 3.5 hours. This mode of transport is not favoured by tourists. However, a significant expansion of Thailand’s railway network is underway with an expected completion date between 2019 and 2024. Notable projects for Khao Yai include:

• The Grand Station in Bang Sue is expected to be completed in 2021, and it will replace Hua Lamphong Railway Station as Bangkok’s main railway station. It claims to be the largest railway station in South East Asia with a total of 26 platforms. Bang Sue will connect to several train routes throughout the country.

• The first phase of the North-Eastern High-Speed Rail (HSR) will link Bangkok province to Nakhon Ratchasima province over a 252-kilometre long track. The project will be managed under a joint venture between Thailand and China, where China will conduct feasibility studies, design the system and lay the tracks, while Thailand will conduct social and environmental impact studies, expropriate land and provide construction materials.
  
  The estimated cost of the first phase is 179 billion baht. The total line is then expected to stretch 873 km, linking Thailand to Laos at the Thai border city of Nong Khai. Currently, there is no confirmed announcement of the operational date. Upon its completion, the route is expected to boost Thailand’s position as a transport and logistics hub for Southeast Asia. Additionally, this could lead to an increase of tourists to Khao Yai as it will ease travelling time to the area.

Tourist Arrivals

Figure 1: Guest Arrivals at Accommodation Establishments, Nakhon Ratchasima, 2013-2018

Source: Department of Tourism

As Khao Yai is situated within the Pakchong district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, a brief synopsis of the tourism industry in the province and the district is provided. Data for Khao Yai was not available at the time of writing this publication.

Guest arrivals at accommodation establishments in Nakhon Ratchasima province were just under 10 million in 2018, recording an increase of 7.3% compared to the previous year. Between 2012 and 2018, the number of guest arrivals at accommodation establishments in the province grew by 8.0% per annum, from approximately 6.0 million to 9.9 million arrivals.

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