Chiang Rai News
Weaving False Hopes around Chiang Rai’s Friendship Bridge
CHIANGRAI – Chiang Rai Tourism Association urges tour operators to organize more tour package for Chinese travelers to boost the tourism industry. The association chairman, Apicha Trasin, said the Province should create tour package for Chinese tourists that draw their attention to the far north destination before they visit Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Pattaya.
Chiang Khong border check pointThe most popular destinations for Chinese visitors are Bangkok and Pattaya, but as Chiang Mai turns from a rural to urban business centre it has also attracted attention, mainly because it duplicates the shopping and entertainment attractions of Bangkok and Pattaya.
“Today, there are more Chinese tourists visiting Thailand via the R3A route through Huay Xai in Laos, but once the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge opens mid-year, it will boost Chinese arrivals via Chiang Rai,” the association president argued.
It is a very simplistic view of the situation in the far north. The reality is the bridge will serve container trucks that are currently bottled up at Chiang Khong or Huay Xai waiting for the ferry. Their only intent it to make it to Bangkok and the ports of the eastern seaboard as fast as possible. Sightseeing is not on the agenda and new highways from the bridge will head south to the Thai capital and beyond.
Tourist traffic from China to Chiang Rai is limited to special interest groups such as motor cycle enthusiasts, who are happy to travel more than 2,000 km to reach the Mekong River region and far-north Thailand.
Route R3A is part of the so-called North-South Economic Corridor linking Thailand with Laos and Xishuangbanna Prefecture in Yunnan province, Southern China. It is really about the cargo and logistics business with tourism traveling on the tail-end, while the huge trucks and trailers cut a corridor through north Thailand to get their goods to the consumer market of Bangkok and to eastern seaboard ports.
Friendship bridge hype is almost overwhelming SME resort owners who firmly believe they are about to be part of a tourism boom that will transform their businesses in the far north. They will be disappointed.
The flight is less than two hours from Kunming to Chiang RaiCovering some 2,000 km, Route R3A starts at the Mekong River, Chiang Rai province, at a brand new bridge that links Chiang Khon to Huay Xai in Laos then to Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Boten in Laos, and Bohan, Jinghong, and Kunming in Yunnan, Southern China.
The tourism association president added that a study had shown that Chinese travelers will arrive at the Chiang Khong border check point and tour operators will pick them up and take them to Chiang Mai and other destinations particularly in Thailand’s central plains and eastern seaboard regions.
Studies claim that the road and bridge will encourage a boom in overland travel. It would involve a 2,000 km road trip to visit Thailand. A reality check would suggest Chinese travelers could buy cheap fares on charter flights that would cut the journey from days to a couple of hours and get them to the fun cities of Bangkok and Pattaya in a jiffy.
Overland bus travel is not necessarily a bargain. For example the Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang bus trip takes 18 hours and uses part of the R3A highway to Luang Namtha. The single fare is Bt960. If there was a low-cost flight between Chiang Rai and Luang Prabang travelers would happily pay Bt2,000 one-way for a one-hour flight to save 18 hours on a bus. They could opt for the boat option from Huay Xai that takes eight hours to Luang Prabang, but then agony is the only word that aptly describes that experience.
Think about it: Why would Kunming residents want to suffer overland travel if there was a faster airline option to get to Chiang Rai? Even on a bus it would cost more than Bt1,000 to embark on a 2,000 km trip. A low-cost airline could compete and save time and at that distance the fare would be good value.
According to the association chairman, over 10,000 Chinese tourists entered Chiang Rai Province at the Chiang Khong border check point and spent Bt3,500 per day per head last year.
This figure cannot be substantiated. They are most likely traders who are keen to tap the logistics boom that will follow once the bridge opens. Already Chinese companies have bought every single town or shop house under construction on the approach road to the bridge.
There are statistics thrown around that suggest that in 2012 more than 2 million Chinese tourists visited Chiang Rai and generated Bt14,000 million in tourism revenue.
These figures cannot be independently confirmed. Tourism companies should disregard the hype and concentrate on the single fact that Chiang Rai is served by a just one international airline that offers a three weekly flights between Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport and Kunming. Total number of passengers if they were all tourists would be 300 a week if all seats were occupied.
There are 10 domestic flights in and out of Chiang Rai offered by THAI, Nok Air and Air Asia. That is three less than last year when Orient Thai served the route.
Considering the bridge will open in around four months very little is being reported on how Chiang Rai intends to promote the bridge to improve tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports have a plenty of ideas including sporting events focused on the bridge such as a marathon and other initiatives to introduce the overland route between the far north province and China.
But the bottom line is, with or without, a 500 metre long bridge over the Mekong River the journey is still 2,000 km and will take 25 hours of hard driving to reach Chiang Rai from big city Kunming. The flight is less than two hours. If as experts claim there are hundreds of Chinese prepared to sit on a bus to reach Chiang Khong then a low-cost airline selling an attractive fare should be able to earn a bundle. But there are no low-cost airlines flying Chiang Rai-Kunming and no one is in rush to be the first. Why? No one wants to take the risk because there is no accurate data for airlines to count on. by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.
Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai
On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.
After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.
She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.
Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.
Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.
When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.
He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.
After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.
Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.
They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.
The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.
The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.
In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.
They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.
According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.
The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.
When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.
Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.
Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.
During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.
The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.
Other related news:
Chiang Mai Police Offer Cash Reward After Officer Killed
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime/chiang-mai-police-offer-reward/
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