Chiang Mai eyes opening new tourism routes linking 4 countries

[webfact]

Chiang Mai eyes opening new tourism routes linking 4 countries

CHIANG MAI, 3 January 2014 (NNT) – The Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association has unveiled a plan to map out new tourism routes which will connect Northern Thailand with Laos, China and Myanmar and help boost the local trade and tourism.

President of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association Sarawut Saetiao said the association had been holding discussions with the local private sector and government units about the launching of new transnational tourism routes in the region. The routes will link eight northern provinces of Thailand with Northern Laos, Southern China and Myanmar. Local trade, tourism and investment are expected to prosper as a result.

During this New Year holiday, Chiang Mai province has seen notable increases in the numbers of Thai and Chinese visitors, with the tourism revenue for the period expected to grow 10%.

As for the national goal to achieve an annual tourism income of 2.2 trillion baht in the year 2015, the association is confident that Chiang Mai and other provinces in the North will be able to contribute up to 80 billion baht of the amount.


-- NNT 2014-01-03

[Sydebolle]

Well, as long as Thailand lets everybody in, that is Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian cars - this is fine.

The flip side of the coin:
- Laos possible only with International Transport Permit and (officially) all-English plates. Chinese and Cambodians can drive in Laos without problems; the Burmese are no option due to the lack of decent road linking the countries

- Vietnam not possible as they allow only left hand driven vehicles in; I got an exception to the rule as I hold a valid European license, went through the paperwork and USD 150 for the permit. Laotian, Cambodian and Chinese cars no problem.

- Myanmar not possible

- Cambodia requires USD 800 plus 17 signatures plus the physical presence of a tour operator at the point of entry/exit. No problem for Laotian, Vietnamese and Chinese vehicles.

Either the Thais have not understood bilateral bargaining - or - more likely, those states are afraid of all this illiterate, selfish, untrained Thai drivers. Another possibility is, that once a Thai car is out of the country it might stay there (irrespective of how much the finance company has seen already).

Driving from Moscow to Portugal is ………. possible without any additional papers, kissing-ass fees or translations into Mongolian Sanskrit only possible at the North Korean translation office in Pyongyang!

[khwaibah]

Cambodia requires USD 800 plus 17 signatures plus the physical presence of a tour operator at the point of entry/exit. No problem for Laotian, Vietnamese Chinese vehicles.

Incorrect. You have not crossed or exited over into Cambodia from Thailand at the Chong Chom Border Crossing south of Surin on the 214 highway.

[Carl64]

Never had a problem with my motorcycle going to Laos with Thai plates.

[LivinLOS]

Cambodia requires USD 800 plus 17 signatures plus the physical presence of a tour operator at the point of entry/exit. No problem for Laotian, Vietnamese Chinese vehicles.

Incorrect. You have not crossed or exited over into Cambodia from Thailand at the Chong Chom Border Crossing south of Surin on the 214 highway.

Cambo is just hit and miss.. I have done 4 different border points some of them multiple times in the last 2 years and you never know what they are going to demand or say..

Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes only within this province / area, sometimes wanting to hold your Thai export docs to enforce that, etc etc etc..

They really need to sort out a effective system.

[khwaibah]

Cambodia requires USD 800 plus 17 signatures plus the physical presence of a tour operator at the point of entry/exit. No problem for Laotian, Vietnamese Chinese vehicles.

Incorrect. You have not crossed or exited over into Cambodia from Thailand at the Chong Chom Border Crossing south of Surin on the 214 highway.

Cambo is just hit and miss.. I have done 4 different border points some of them multiple times in the last 2 years and you never know what they are going to demand or say..

Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes only within this province / area, sometimes wanting to hold your Thai export docs to enforce that, etc etc etc..

They really need to sort out a effective system.

Chong Chome is pretty straight forward. BTW the artificial does not mention Cambodia.

[gabruce]

Never had a problem with my motorcycle going to Laos with Thai plates.

Yes, but is your motorcycle right hand or left hand drive?

[HerbalEd]

What routes? Highways? Airways? Railways?

Edited January 3, 2014 by HerbalEd

[IsaanUSA]

What routes? Highways? Airways? Railways?

Best post in this thread

[Scarpolo]

They are talking abour rail links, mostly funded by China,

unless I missed something