Myanmar Opens Checkpoint To Thai Vehicles

[george]

Myanmar opens checkpoint to Thai vehicles

CHIANG RAI: -- Myanmar has begun to allow Thai vehicles to enter the country again through checkpoints along on the joint border with Thailand after imposing a week-long ban.

The lifting of the ban was a relief to Thai tour operators and businessmen on the border town of Mae Sai, in the northernmost province of Chiang Rai, according to officials along the border.

Next week’s water festival is usually a lucrative period for tour operators and vendors as many Thai and foreign tourists visit the area, the director of the Thai-Myanmar Economic and Culture Association, Tanomsak Serivichayasawasdi told TNA.

The local authorities predict tourist spending to be high and help boost Mae Sai local economy.

The ban hit tour operators and traders hard and resulted in a substantial loss of business. Many tour operators had to cancel their programmes to Myanmar, which included visiting the country’s cities of Tachilek, Kengtung and Mong La by road.

Border trade between Thailand and Myanmar was also suspended as trucks were not allowed to cross the border.

Mae Sai township’s economy depends heavily on cross border trade, and any conflict between the two countries hits the city and its residents hard.

--TNA 2005-04-07