Does the Thai city of Chiang Mai need a cable car? This question has remained unanswered for several decades. According to the portal Wochenblitz, the Austrian honorary consul in Chiang Mai, Nicholas Prachensky, brought the project back into discussion this summer.

The Austrian company Doppelmayr Group presented a plan: a 2.2-kilometer route instead of the previous 11-kilometer winding road. The ride is expected to take 9.8 minutes and lead to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep – a Buddhist temple.

Pro-cable car perspectives

According to project representatives, the cable car could significantly reduce traffic on the mountain road. In addition, it could transport emergency patients, assist with forest fire monitoring, and facilitate waste collection.

Another argument is economic: the cable car could turn Doi Suthep-Pui National Park into a hub for outdoor activities – from hiking and trail running to mountain biking.

Contra-cable car perspectives

Critics argue that a modern cable car is culturally incompatible with the sacred temple. In their view, Wat Doi Suthep is not an amusement park but a spiritual site.

They also oppose an increase in tourist numbers, fearing the commercialization of the holy place.