The plan aimed at promoting international tourism to this famous seaside resort town not far from Bangkok.

The plan was disclosed yesterday as the transport minister Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith visited the airport on his inspection trip.

He ordered that a plan to develop the airport be created to improve the capability of this comparatively underutilized air terminal.

At present, only one carrier operates from the airport and other than that it is primarily used as a base for the Civil Aviation Training Center.

He said Hua Hin airport is actually well equipped with a 35-meter wide 2,100-meter long runway which can support Boeing 737 aircraft.

It has strong potential for development and improvements as its capabilities could facilitate aircraft even larger in size.

This will then attract even more carriers which in turn will dramatically improve tourism in and around Hua Hin, he said.

Furthermore, should the improvements meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards then its potential will increase exponentially.

He then assigned the Department of Airports the responsibility of expanding the width of the runway from 35 to 45 meters as a mean to promote international tourism to this seaside resort.

At present 80% of tourists to Hua Hin are Thais, and 20% foreign tourists from Europe.