New Border Trade Checkpoint To Be Opened

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MAE HONG SON, Nov 23 (TNA) - Thailand plans to open a new border checkpoint with Myanmar early next year.

The Thai authorities hope the border crossing will help boost local trade between the two countries.

The new checkpoint at Rong Haeng in Ban Rong Haeng, Maung District of the country's northern province of Mae Hong Son will be opened for local Thai and Myanmar residents although Rangoon has not officially opened border trade with Mae Hong Son, the provincial governor, Supote Laowansiri told TNA.

The area will also be opened as a tourist spot next year.

Tourists to the region are expected to be allowed to cross the border into Myanmar in the future, Mr. Supote said.

The Mae Hong Son provincial authorities hope that the opening of the Rong Haeng checkpoint will help attract more tourists to the province, in

addition to the current border trade point at Ban Huay Phueng.

Analysts believe the opening of the new trade point is a sign of close relationship between Mae Hong Son and Myanmar’s local governments, which has been largely unaffected by the political change in Rangoon last month when Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt was deposed.

Traders along the border told TNA that Myanmar businessmen are building hotels in preparation for serving Thai and foreign tourists who are expected to cross the border at Rong Haeng into Myanmar in the future.

(TNA)--E112, E002

Tourists crowd into Mae Hong Son

MAE HONG SON, Nov 22 (TNA) - Accommodation is fully booked and money is flowing in Thailand's northern province of Mae Hong Son, as foreigners and Thais from across the country flock to experience the cold mountain weather, and to see the province's famous wild sunflowers.

The higher than expected tourist numbers are a particular boon for a province which earlier this year feared that Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) could cancel its flights to Mae Hong Son during the height of the tourism season, a move which would have led to a devastating loss of income.

Today Mr. Issaret Phusara, head of the Mae Hong Son Tourist Coordination Centre, said that since the province launched its tourism season on 5 November, Mae Hong Son had seen an average of 4,000-5,000 new visitors a day, bringing with them daily revenue of around Bt10 million.

All accommodation in central Mae Hong Son is now fully booked until January, while temples in the northern town are packed with visitors.

Mr. Issaret attributed the high tourist numbers to the launch of new tourist destinations in Mae Lanoi and Mae Sariang districts, with accommodation bookings in Mae Sariang up 80 percent as a consequence.

Mae Hong Son is also encouraging tourists to travel a new route between Mae Hong Son and the northwestern province of Tak to the South.

Particularly popular in Mae Hong Son are the famous wild sunflower fields which over the past week have attracted 17,224 visitors, a considerably higher number than initially forecast by local tourism organizations.

(TNA)--E006