Border crossing continues
IT is business as usual for southern Thai-bound tour bus and van operators as they are still allowed to ferry passengers beyond the Malaysia-Thai border here.
This was despite earlier reports that tour buses and vans from Malaysia and Singapore would be banned from crossing over to southern Thai, while tourists would be forced to board its local tour buses to continue their journey.
Checks at the Dannok-Bukit Kayu Hitam border recently showed the buses and vans were still allowed to transport passengers into the south of Thailand.
Long queue of buses and vans could be seen at the border gate as early as 6am.
One of the drivers, Mohd Jamil Bidin, 42, said he was not aware of the ruling which took effect on Aug 1.
Tour bus and van operators from Malaysia and Singapore are not allowed to cross into Thailand.
However, Jamil said until now, they were still allowed to transport passengers from Malaysia to the neighbouring countries without restriction as long as all persons on board had valid travel documents.
“I am not aware of this new ruling where tourists have to switch to Thai public transports.
“None of the authorities in Thailand have said anything about this and we are operating as usual for now,” he said when met at Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here.
Another driver, who only wished to be identified as Seng, said he was also unaware of such a ruling.
He expressed his concern that the drivers’ income would be affected if the Thai authorities decided to disallow Malaysian or Singaporean tour buses from entering the country.
“Our trip would be cut by almost half and most likely our income will be affected,” he said.
Seng also fears that such a ruling would lead to the drop in the number of Malaysian tourists travelling to Thailand by bus.
Meanwhile, a Penangite, who travels to Hat Yai for work every fortnight, said the ruling would be troublesome for tourists.
“Having to switch buses at the border will be such a hassle, especially for those travelling with young children or with lots of baggage,” she said.
It was reported that the ruling was a retaliation against the Malaysian authorities move to ban tour vans from Thailand to transport passengers beyond two kilometres of the border to protect local public transport operators.
Meanwhile, a source from the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla said the office had yet to receive any written notice on the new ruling from the Thai government.
According to him, if indeed such a ruling was passed the Thai government would have issued a notice to the consulate and given ample time for its implementation.
“This is news to me. We have not been informed on the new ruling nor have we received any written notice from the Thai authorities,” said the source.
“The enforcement would have not taken place without prior notice as it will have a negative effect on tourism in Thailand,” he added.
Local tour bus and van operators queuing at the Customs and Immigration point to drop off passengers in Hatyai.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
IT is business as usual for southern Thai-bound tour bus and van operators as they are still allowed to ferry passengers beyond the Malaysia-Thai border here.
This was despite earlier reports that tour buses and vans from Malaysia and Singapore would be banned from crossing over to southern Thai, while tourists would be forced to board its local tour buses to continue their journey.
Checks at the Dannok-Bukit Kayu Hitam border recently showed the buses and vans were still allowed to transport passengers into the south of Thailand.
Long queue of buses and vans could be seen at the border gate as early as 6am.
One of the drivers, Mohd Jamil Bidin, 42, said he was not aware of the ruling which took effect on Aug 1.
Tour bus and van operators from Malaysia and Singapore are not allowed to cross into Thailand.
However, Jamil said until now, they were still allowed to transport passengers from Malaysia to the neighbouring countries without restriction as long as all persons on board had valid travel documents.
“I am not aware of this new ruling where tourists have to switch to Thai public transports.
“None of the authorities in Thailand have said anything about this and we are operating as usual for now,” he said when met at Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here.
Another driver, who only wished to be identified as Seng, said he was also unaware of such a ruling.
He expressed his concern that the drivers’ income would be affected if the Thai authorities decided to disallow Malaysian or Singaporean tour buses from entering the country.
“Our trip would be cut by almost half and most likely our income will be affected,” he said.
Seng also fears that such a ruling would lead to the drop in the number of Malaysian tourists travelling to Thailand by bus.
Meanwhile, a Penangite, who travels to Hat Yai for work every fortnight, said the ruling would be troublesome for tourists.
“Having to switch buses at the border will be such a hassle, especially for those travelling with young children or with lots of baggage,” she said.
It was reported that the ruling was a retaliation against the Malaysian authorities move to ban tour vans from Thailand to transport passengers beyond two kilometres of the border to protect local public transport operators.
Meanwhile, a source from the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla said the office had yet to receive any written notice on the new ruling from the Thai government.
According to him, if indeed such a ruling was passed the Thai government would have issued a notice to the consulate and given ample time for its implementation.
“This is news to me. We have not been informed on the new ruling nor have we received any written notice from the Thai authorities,” said the source.
“The enforcement would have not taken place without prior notice as it will have a negative effect on tourism in Thailand,” he added.
Local tour bus and van operators queuing at the Customs and Immigration point to drop off passengers in Hatyai.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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