Thailand’s military government plans to open a new commercial airport near Bangkok by 2017, officials said today.

The government plans to redevelop U-Tapao, a former Vietnam War-era Air Force base located near the tourist resort of Pattaya, around 140km from Bangkok.

It would be the third airport to serve the capital, along with Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.

U-Tapao currently receives chartered flights from Russia and China, but Transport Minister Prajin Juntong told reporters he wants to make it a low-cost carrier hub.

Tourism accounts for 10 percent of Thailand’s economy.

A survey by MasterCard earlier this month predicted that Bangkok was set to become the world’s second-most visited city in 2015, with 18.24 million arrivals. It followed London, which was predicted to receive 18.82 million visitors.

- dpa