Overland tourism in spotlight

Thailand and Yunnan province in China have agreed to establish a joint tourism working group.

Tourism Authority of Thailand and Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration accelerated tourism promotion after the R3A overland route that connects Thailand, via Laos to Yunnan province was opened last year.

Last month, the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River at Chiang Khong and Huay Xai in Laos was approved. It is the last missing link in the highway to China. The bridge will open in late 2013 at a site just 3 km south of the Chiang Khong. It will be the Fourth Mekong Friendship Bridge. Others are located at Nong Khai, Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom (due to open in 2012.)

TAT confirmed it would extend tourism cooperation after signing off on an agreement with the YPTA in Bangkok, yesterday. YPTA was on a sales mission to Bangkok and showcased its tourism products at the recent Thai International Travel Fair, 25 to 28 February.

“We will set up a working committee to manage issues related to travel promotions between the two countries,” said TAT deputy governor, international marketing (East Asia and South Pacific), Sansern Ngaorungsi.

He said the committee would share information and assist each other in tourism marketing. A MOU will be drafted soon to make the commitment official.

TAT also hopes cooperation will pave gthe way for preparations for the opening of the fourth Mekong Friendship Bridge (Chiang Khong- Huay Xai) which is expected to be completed in 2013.

TAT is supporting an overland caravan of 40 tourism related companies from the Northern Thailand to Chiang Rung and Kunming, from 13 to 19 March. They will hold table-top sales and meetings with government tourism units to follow up on tourism promotional issues.

According to TAT’s East Asia market division director, Euamporn Jiragalwisul, there are numerous problems that discourage overland travel on the R3A route.

They include: rules that  forbid right-hand drive cars; road signs  in Chinese language only; a lack of gasoline stations and rest areas on R3A;  visa issues and duplication of border checkpoint procedures.