The construction of Phan Thiet airport is expected to lure more tourists to the beautiful beach city. – VNA Photo Thanh Ha

BINH THUAN (Biz Hub) – The Prime Minister will launch the construction of Phan Thiet Airport in the southern province of Binh Thuan on January 18.

The VND5.6-trillion (US$263 million) airport, which covers an area of 543ha in Thien Nghiep Commune in Phan Thiet City, is for civilian and military purposes, as well as for organising rescue efforts.

Rang Dong JSC has been chosen by the provincial People's Committee as the investor of the civilian section of the airport, with a total investment of more than VND1.64 trillion ($77 million).

This is the first airport in the country to be built on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

The construction will be implemented in two phases. During the first phase, from now till 2020, the airport will be built on an area of 360ha with a 2,400m-long runway and a 5,000sq.m terminal which can handle 300 passengers during peak hours, or equivalent to 5,000 passengers with 10,000 tonnes of cargo per year.

The fully constructed airport is expected to receive one million passengers and 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of cargo per year.

According to the Binh Thuan Transport Department, 328ha or 60 per cent of the project land has been cleared for the investor. The department is co-operating with the relevant branches to clear the rest of the land.

At the press conference hosted by the People's Committee, its Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc said that the operation of the airport will help the province achieve a breakthrough in socio-economic development.

Convenient transport facilities will bring more investors as well as tourists to the province, he asserted.

Phan Thiet airport is expected to receive the first passengers by 2017.

The airport will connect flights between Binh Thuan and domestic destinations such as HCM City, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot and Phu Quoc Island, as well as Da Nang, Tuy Hoa and Binh Dinh provinces. – VNS