Central Pattana undertakes a major 30-year transformation of Central Chiangmai Airport
1.2 billion Thai baht has been invested to support Chiang Mai’s global tourism growth
Central Pattana Public Company Limited, Thailand’s leading sustainable real estate developer, has invested 1.2 billion Thai baht to transform Central Chiangmai Airport into a new mixed-use landmark, strengthening Chiang Mai’s position as a high-potential global city.
Developed under the “Reimagining Lanna” concept, the project spans over 130 rai with a total GBA of 173,000 square metres.
Featuring over 350 global and local brands, a 2,800-square-metre convention hall, a tourist hub with airport shuttle services, multi-generation lifestyle spaces, and GO Wholesale, the first in Northern Thailand, with future plans for hotel and residential expansion, supporting the lifestyles of urban communities and travellers from around the world.
Dr Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, Chief Marketing Officer for Central Pattana plc, said…
“At Central Pattana, we believe Thailand’s growth goes beyond Bangkok. Our mixed-use developments in key regional cities are designed to enhance quality of life while driving sustainable urban growth.”
“In Chiang Mai, the presence of two shopping centres, Central Chiangmai Airport and Central Chiangmai, functions like complementary pieces of a puzzle, connecting the Old City and the New City to generate cross-spending power and support the city’s growth across all dimensions.”
He further added…
“Central Chiangmai Airport has been part of Chiang Mai for over 30 years and is located in the southern area, close to the city center, major hospitals, more than 150 residential communities, educational institutions, and just three minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport, the project also connects seamlessly to Hang Dong and Saraphi, areas known for their strong craft communities and local character.”
“As the city’s landscape continues to evolve and expand outward from the urban core, Chiang Mai’s catchment area has grown larger and more sophisticated, driven by rising income levels and evolving lifestyles. The transformation of Central Chiangmai Airport is therefore designed to meet the city’s new demand and elevate the project into a new mixed-use landmark, attracting both domestic and international visitors.”
“In 2025, the centre recorded over 13 million visits annually, averaging 38,000 visitors per day, with traffic expected to increase to over 42,000 visitors per day in 2026 and projected to continue growing by approximately 10% annually, while Central Chiangmai primarily serves the city’s northern expansion.”
Central Chiangmai Airport targets a customer mix of 70% Thai visitors and 30% international tourists. The top five international source markets are the United States, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore, respectively.
Elevating Chiang Mai’s potential as a global city to accommodate strong tourism growth
Chiang Mai stands as Northern Thailand’s economic hub, covering the largest provincial area in the country and serving a catchment population of over 1.8 million people. According to data from the Chiang Mai Provincial Treasury Office (data collected from March this year), the province recorded a Gross Provincial Product (GPP) of 265,000 Thai baht, with GPP per capita at 150,000 Thai baht, ranking third in the North and twelfth nationwide. Renowned globally as a leading travel destination, Chiang Mai continues to gain strong international recognition.
This year, Travel + Leisure ranked Chiang Mai as the Best City in Asia, underscoring its growing appeal on the global tourism stage. From January to October, the city welcomed nearly 10 million domestic and international visitors, generating over 87 billion baht in tourism revenue. The top five international visitor markets to Chiang Mai are China, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Malaysia.
Chiang Mai enters a new growth cycle with multi-dimensional expansion
Chiang Mai is entering a new growth cycle, driven by the continuous development of infrastructure and transportation systems. By 2026, Chiang Mai International Airport has plans to expand its passenger terminal to accommodate more than 16 million travellers annually, alongside upgrades to the existing terminal.
The full enhancement is expected to be completed by 2033, increasing total capacity to 20 to 25 million passengers per year from around the world. The city ranks among the world’s top three destinations for digital nomads, with over 30,000 individuals, and is home to more than 90,000 expatriates working in the city, as well as over 3,500 retiree expats, making it one of the most preferred retirement destinations in Thailand.
These groups are primarily concentrated in inner and middle urban zones such as Hang Dong, Mae Rim, and San Sai. Chiang Mai also stands out as an educational hub, ranking second nationwide in terms of the number of international schools.
Central Chiangmai Airport meets Chiang Mai’s new demand, emerging as the city’s new signature landmark
1. New design concept, Reimagining Lanna: A modern reinterpretation of Lanna’s cultural identity, seamlessly connecting Chiang Mai’s heritage with a contemporary urban narrative. The design instils a sense of pride in local communities while creating a strong first impression for visitors from around the world, encompassing architectural form, interior design, and curated signature zones.
A key highlight is the expanded Kad Luang Indoor Local Market, now more than three times larger, featuring a curated collection of Michelin-recognised eateries such as Koyi Khao Man Gai, Kua Gai Nimman, Khao Soi Lamduan Fah Ham, and Anchan Noodles, alongside authentic local cuisine, Best of the North souvenirs, and the Northern Village craft zone.
With over 100 curated outlets, the destination is designed to attract quality tourists and establish itself as Chiang Mai’s largest must-visit tourist destination.
2. Curated mix of 350 leading global and local brands: across Fashion & Lifestyle, Food & Beverage, Speciality, Beauty, IT, and Banking & Financial Services, designed to meet the needs of both local communities and international visitors.
- First-in-the-north highlights: The largest MUJI Flagship Store in Northern Thailand, CHAGEE, a premium Chinese tea brand, and HarborLand, a world-class indoor playground.
- Renowned dining & Michelin-recognised brands: Sushiro, the popular Japanese conveyor-belt sushi brand; Chantaros, a Thai restaurant under the Michelin-recognised Ekachan Ethnic Thai Cuisine; and the upcoming opening of Saneh Thai Cuisine in 2026, a highly acclaimed Michelin-recognised halal restaurant from Chiang Mai.
- Popular brands: Bear House, Boost Juice, GAGA, KOI Thé, MIXUE, Naisnow, and Potato Corner.
- Fashion & sports brands: Uniqlo and three global sports leaders-Adidas, Nike, and PUMA-featured in large-format stores, alongside fashion favourites such as Charles & Keith, Crocs, Gentlewoman, Skechers, Pomelo, and curated showcase brands including Mitr and With.it.
- Beauty brands: BEAUTRIUM and JUNG SAEM MOOL, among others.
- Tourist-focused brands: Hug Thai, Hug Craft, and Good Goods.
- Strong synergy with Central Group businesses: Including the Department Store, Tops Food Hall, the new-format Supersports, Power Buy, and B2S, delivering a fully integrated lifestyle ecosystem.
3. A year-round, all-weather tourism destination- Showcasing Chiang Mai’s unique identity on the global stage through year-round festivals and curated experiences, driving economic and tourism growth. Signature highlights include the Thai Local Pride Christmas Tree, a 15-metre-tall contemporary woven Christmas tree inspired by Lanna craftsmanship, developed under the concept Weaving the Future, Embracing the Origin. The installation is co-created by the Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University, and VASSANA, a renowned local bamboo-weaving brand.
Other major attractions include Chiang Mai’s iconic Songkran celebrations, Pa Weni Pee Mai Muang Chiang Mai, together with the Water War Music Festival, and the Chiang Mai Flora Festival, featuring expansive floral landscapes, sculptures, immersive lighting, and millions of decorative lights.
Complementing these experiences is a 2,800-square-metre convention hall, hosting the city’s major events throughout the year, including Money Expo, Motor Expo, Chiang Mai Book Fair, concerts, and competitions. Together, these elements position Central Chiangmai Airport as a dynamic lifestyle hub, generating consistent year-round traffic from both local communities and visitors across the province.
Central Chiangmai Airport reflects Central Pattana’s long-term vision of growing in step with Chiang Mai, unlocking new possibilities, and shaping a sustainable economic future for
If you want to know more details, you can visit their website here!
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