Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2016 16:00:56 GMT 7
Chiang Khong town sits on the edge of Thailand, separated from Laos by the Mekong River.
Each year, thousands of Chinese vehicles pass through, some carrying produce trucked through Laos. Then there are Chinese tourists, conspicuous in their left-hand-drive sport utility vehicles as they traverse northern Thailand's mountainous attractions.
This year, there has been a new sight: campervans.
Dozens of these mobile homes arrived during the Chinese New Year tourism crush last month.
They stirred up debate on Thai social media after pictures of them parked in seemingly inappropriate places like temples and curbsides were circulated online.
For locals already frustrated with the boorish behaviour of Chinese tourists, the appearance of these campervans has only fanned the disapproval.
Although new campervan spaces have been built in some national parks, they were not ready for use last month.
In that month alone, 4,757 Chinese-registered cars entered the country through Chiang Khong, five times the January figure. According to Chiang Khong Customs House, the Chinese cars made up three-quarters of all cars entering Thailand from that checkpoint last month.
"They parked everywhere," said Major-General Pongsak Chuasomboon, the deputy commissioner of police in the northernmost provinces. "They even parked by a police kiosk because they wanted to be safe."
He added, however, that the campervan drivers were polite and compliant when asked to move their vehicles.
But the arrival of the campervans has brought on safety concerns, given the lax rules that already govern foreign vehicles in Thailand.
Apart from documentation fees, Chinese motorists need only sit through a video introduction lasting no more than 20 minutes and buy third-party insurance covering only injury or death, to be able to drive in the country.
As a result, Thai motorists involved in accidents with Chinese vehicles find it difficult to claim damages, says Mr Manop Sae-jia, the president of a tour guide association called Care Lanna Guide Community based in neighbouring Chiang Mai province.
Continues:
www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/chinese-in-campervans-spark-frustration-in-thailand
Each year, thousands of Chinese vehicles pass through, some carrying produce trucked through Laos. Then there are Chinese tourists, conspicuous in their left-hand-drive sport utility vehicles as they traverse northern Thailand's mountainous attractions.
This year, there has been a new sight: campervans.
Dozens of these mobile homes arrived during the Chinese New Year tourism crush last month.
They stirred up debate on Thai social media after pictures of them parked in seemingly inappropriate places like temples and curbsides were circulated online.
For locals already frustrated with the boorish behaviour of Chinese tourists, the appearance of these campervans has only fanned the disapproval.
Although new campervan spaces have been built in some national parks, they were not ready for use last month.
In that month alone, 4,757 Chinese-registered cars entered the country through Chiang Khong, five times the January figure. According to Chiang Khong Customs House, the Chinese cars made up three-quarters of all cars entering Thailand from that checkpoint last month.
"They parked everywhere," said Major-General Pongsak Chuasomboon, the deputy commissioner of police in the northernmost provinces. "They even parked by a police kiosk because they wanted to be safe."
He added, however, that the campervan drivers were polite and compliant when asked to move their vehicles.
But the arrival of the campervans has brought on safety concerns, given the lax rules that already govern foreign vehicles in Thailand.
Apart from documentation fees, Chinese motorists need only sit through a video introduction lasting no more than 20 minutes and buy third-party insurance covering only injury or death, to be able to drive in the country.
As a result, Thai motorists involved in accidents with Chinese vehicles find it difficult to claim damages, says Mr Manop Sae-jia, the president of a tour guide association called Care Lanna Guide Community based in neighbouring Chiang Mai province.
Continues:
www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/chinese-in-campervans-spark-frustration-in-thailand
