More Thai–lao Cross Border Bus Services Planned

[george]

More Thai–Lao cross border bus services planned

CHIANG MAI: -- Thailand and Laos plan to increase cross border bus services between the two sister countries to help boost bilateral trade, investment and tourism.

A joint feasibility study is planned on three new proposed routes linking Laos and Thailand, the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, Piyapan Chumpasut, told TNA on Thursday.

The three proposed new routes will link the Lao province of Champasak and Thailand’s north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, the Lao province of Suwannakhet with the Thai northeastern province of Mukdaharn, and the

ancient Lao capital of Luang Prabang with Thailand’s second largest city in the North, Chiang Mai, through the nearby Nan Province.

Lao officials have also suggested that the Champasak-Ubon Ratchathani link be extended down to Bangkok.

This will be considered at a later stage, according to Thai officials.

Last year Thailand and Laos opened cross border transport services, with two passenger bus routes – between Laos' capital city of Vientiane and Udon Thani in Thailand's Northeast, and Vientiane and Nong Khai, also in Thailand's Northeast.

The services have significantly boosted border transport links and cross-border trade, Mr. Piyapan told TNA.

The number of goods transport companies has increased from 5 to 172.

The competition has helped reduce transport fees by 20-30%, he said.

Checkpoints on the Thai-Lao relationship bridge will also now be opened longer, from 6.00 hrs to 22.00 hrs, from 08:00 hrs. to 18:00 hrs earlier.

--TNA 2005-02-04