ID :
121459
Tue, 05/11/2010 - 21:09
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/121459
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Thai van operators in Malaysian border provinces end protest
SONGKHLA, May 11 (TNA/ BERNAMA) – Thai tour van operators protesting in Songkhla for the fourth day ended their gathering Tuesday, satisfied after Malaysian's Kedah state Tourism Ministry Office temporarily allowed Thai van operators to ferry tourists to Malaysia for at least one month.
Chonakan Prommoon, leader of local tour van operators in Thailand's five border provinces, said that his group gathered outside a hotel in Songkhla's Sadao district since May 8.
Demonstrators demanded that local Thai officials solve their problems, citing that Malaysian officials often fined Thai-registered tour vans entering Malaysia while Malaysian-registered tour vehicles are permitted to ferry passengers into Thailand freely.
After Thai tour operators asked the Malaysian authorities to help solve their problems, Kedah's Tourism Ministry officials issued temporary licences, for at least one-month validity, to Thai van operators in order to operate van services in Malaysia lawfully.
During the one-month operating window, the Malaysian authorities advised that the tour van operators register with licenced companies prior to seeking licences from Malaysia's tourism ministry.
The tour van operators were apparently satisfied with Malaysia’s temporary permission and ended their rally Tuesday, then petitioned the governor of Songkhla to call for the officials to implement strict measures against Malaysian tour vans entering Thailand illegally.
Bernama, Malaysia's national news agency, on Sunday reported that local tour operators and agents were advised not to do anything to cause tension following a blockade staged by Thai van and bus operators in Danok to prevent Malaysian-registered buses and vans from entering Thailand since Friday.
With the exception of private vehicles, visitors could only enter Thailand on foot or by hiring Thai vans and buses to make the trip at a higher price.
Kedah Road Transport Department director Abdul Rahman Hussain said Malaysia had cited a Thai tourist van for misusing its International Circulation Permit in Ops Checkmate two months ago.
"The ICP will only be given to owners of private vehicles entering Malaysia, but we discovered a tourist van operator from Thailand using it to ferry tourists," he said. (TNA/ BERNAMA)
Chonakan Prommoon, leader of local tour van operators in Thailand's five border provinces, said that his group gathered outside a hotel in Songkhla's Sadao district since May 8.
Demonstrators demanded that local Thai officials solve their problems, citing that Malaysian officials often fined Thai-registered tour vans entering Malaysia while Malaysian-registered tour vehicles are permitted to ferry passengers into Thailand freely.
After Thai tour operators asked the Malaysian authorities to help solve their problems, Kedah's Tourism Ministry officials issued temporary licences, for at least one-month validity, to Thai van operators in order to operate van services in Malaysia lawfully.
During the one-month operating window, the Malaysian authorities advised that the tour van operators register with licenced companies prior to seeking licences from Malaysia's tourism ministry.
The tour van operators were apparently satisfied with Malaysia’s temporary permission and ended their rally Tuesday, then petitioned the governor of Songkhla to call for the officials to implement strict measures against Malaysian tour vans entering Thailand illegally.
Bernama, Malaysia's national news agency, on Sunday reported that local tour operators and agents were advised not to do anything to cause tension following a blockade staged by Thai van and bus operators in Danok to prevent Malaysian-registered buses and vans from entering Thailand since Friday.
With the exception of private vehicles, visitors could only enter Thailand on foot or by hiring Thai vans and buses to make the trip at a higher price.
Kedah Road Transport Department director Abdul Rahman Hussain said Malaysia had cited a Thai tourist van for misusing its International Circulation Permit in Ops Checkmate two months ago.
"The ICP will only be given to owners of private vehicles entering Malaysia, but we discovered a tourist van operator from Thailand using it to ferry tourists," he said. (TNA/ BERNAMA)
