Legal Measures for Chinese Tourists with Personal Vehicles for Cross Border Tourism via The Fourth Friendship Bridge between Thai-Laos (Chiang Khong – Houayxay) (in Thai)

Abstract

This research article aims to study impacts resulting and thereby proposing the suitable measures for the enforcement of the ‘Announcement of the Department of Land Transport on Regulating the Rules, Processes and Conditions on Requesting for Permission, Permission, Period of using vehicles, and the indicating temporary vehicle use in the Kingdom of Thailand for the purpose of tourism or other specific purposes, B.E. 2559’. The study is a qualitative research done by using several techniques which are documentary research, in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, and field study on R3A route.

The results of the present study found that since the announcement has come into force, the amount of Chinese personal vehicles driving into Thailand via Chiang Khong border point has dramatically decreased. This decrease has significantly affected to business sector in the travels and tourism industry of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, especially in the area of Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai. Nevertheless, after critically analysing the suitability of the legal measure, the authors consider that the announcement of the Department of Land Transport should be retained as the main legal measure that governs driving foreign vehicles into Thailand. Notwithstanding, it is worth proposing that some certain provisions of this announcement should be revised. The process of legal improvement should be divided into three steps. In short-term, the complexity and period of applying for permission to drive foreign vehicles into Thailand for the purpose of tourism should be diminished by setting up one-stop service point at the Chiang Khong border area. This includes declaring Chiang Khong to be a free - zone driving area for foreign vehicles on condition that the declaration must be approved by public hearing of Chiang Khong citizen. In intermediate-term, bilateral agreement between the governments of Thailand and China concerning on the recognition of driving vehicles across the borders of those countries should be concluded. Finally, for long term improvement, the national laws regarding driving foreign vehicles across the borders via R3A route should be developed through harmonization of law.