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Red tape snarls Pata's Caravan
Travel Trade Report, December 28, 1998
PLANS to organise the Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Caravan, scheduled for February 1999, have run into a major obstacle. Organisers admitted that the 30 four-wheel-drive vehicles might not get further than the border unless the Thai Immigration Division relents and opens up a checkpoint at Kanchanburi's Pilok border point in western Thailand. Up until now Pilok is not recognised as checkpoint for border-crossings to Myanmar. Tourism Authority of Thailand officials admitted last week that efforts to convince the Immigration Division to open the border for the caravan had failed.
Trip organiser Luzi Matzig of Diethelm Travel confirmed that clearance had been given by Myanmar. "The only hitch we face is getting the Thai authorities to authorise the crossing at Pilok."
He feared that the trip was in jeopardy unless authorisation came from the top.
The trip is part of an campaign by the Pata Thailand Chapter and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote overland tours between Thailand and its neighbours. Designed to show that overland tours are possible, the caravan organisers say they are now being stymied by Thai immigration rules after convincing "Myanmar to come to the party with full support."
The project is scheduled to start on 5 February with as many as 120 participants joining the Bangkok-Yangon leg. The 30 vehicles return with another 120 participants who meet the caravan in Yangon after a reception with city dignitaries and all 240 participants. A similar caravan trip was ogranised last year between Chiang Rai and Kunming. Earlier this year a survey of the route showed it was possible to drive all the way from Bangkok to Yangon using a private road built for the oil pipeline to cut through the mountainous border country. If the border remains closed at Pilok in Thongpaphum district, Kanchanaburi province, organisers said the project would collapse.
The Pata Thailand Chapter has sent a letter to Pitak Intrawithayanunt, minister in charge of tourism, seeking support.
TAT has lobbied the Interior Ministry and the Immigration Division to push for special permission. However, there had been no response from Immigration officials at press time.
According to an executive at the Immigration Office, allowing tourists to cross at Pilok would be a complicated issue as it was not listed as a checkpoint. It would also require permission from the governor’s office in Kanchanaburi because it related to security issues.
Moreover, Travel Trade Report was told by Preecha Khamnetr, analyst for planning and development division, Kanchanaburi administration office, that TAT had made a verbal request but had not followed through with a written confirmation.
He said it was impossible for the Thai government's National Security Council to open the border at Baan I-Tong in Pilok sub-district even for a special case because the border has not been clearly identified by Thailand and Myanmar.
Also, permission would involve other agencies such as the Interior Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Security Council and Immigration Office.
The caravan route is Bangkok-Kanchanaburi-Pilok-Ye-Mawlamyine-Moktama-Thaton-Golden Rock-Bago-Yangon.
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