Permit rule for Thai tour buses

PHUKET: Thai van and bus operators ferrying tourists to Malaysia must apply for permits from the Tourism Ministry each time they cross the border, in a ruling that will take effect after Hari Raya. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the Thai operators have to be licensed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before they can apply for the permit, costing RM50 each time. “As far as we are concerned, we will allow Thai van operators to come in with tourists as long as they are the registered with the Thai authority.

“The operators will have to apply for the permit through our ministry’s office in Alor Setar,” she said. “It (the ruling) is to make sure the tourists are protected and everything is accountable and transparent,” she told Malaysian reporters during her official visit to Thailand. Dr Ng said one of her main tasks during her visit to Thailand was to address the van and bus operators issue and explain the situation. “They (van and bus operators) always have problems at the border, so we are here to discuss and build a good relationship,” she said.

It was reported that about 30 to 40 Thai bus and van operators had pitched a tent along the main road about 1km from the Thai immigration checkpoint in May to stop and turn away Malaysian-registered buses and vans carrying passengers into the kingdom. Malaysian consul-general in Song­khla Mohd Aini Atan was reported as saying that he had been working closely with the Thai government to find a solution to the problems that led to the blockade. He said the issuance of summonses by the Road Transport Depart­ment on Thai van and bus operators for ferrying tourists to Malaysia was an old issue.

-thestar online.