Saturday, 25 October 2008

Trade, tourism return to normal on Thai-Cambodian border

SA KAEO, Oct 24 (TNA) — Cross-border businesses between this eastern Thai border province and Cambodia gradually returned to normal after the Thai and Cambodian military clash at a disputed zone near the ancient Khmer Preah Vihear temple caused fear for their personal safety among both traders and shoppers, a Thai immigration official said here Friday.

Pol.Lt-Col. Jeerachart Romsaiyood, a Thai government immigration inspector at the Aranyaprathet border check point, said the bilateral border trade and tourism business between Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district and Cambodia's neighbouring Siem Riep province had returned to normal after the economic slowdown due to the firefight in the Northeastern province of Si Sa Ket.

As people of the two countries regained their confidence that the border situation would be settled soon, the atmosphere at Aranyaprathet's Rong Klua Market on Friday was quite vibrant.

Thousands of Cambodian traders resumed their businesses at Rong Klua Market while Thai tourist groups again travelled to Cambodia's UNESCO World Heritage Site, the national landmark temples of Angkor.

The trips to visit ancient Angkor Wat and its adjourning historical districts in November for Loy Krathong festival were fully booked, with more than one hundred groups currently on tourism agency books.

However, the Thai police chief inspector at Klong Leuk police station said security measures were still tight in the Klong Leuk area of Aranyaprathet district to ensure the safety as the market was fully opened and shoppers were crowding the market. (TNA)

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