THAILAND-LAOS LINK
CHUROJ TRIPRAPAKORN
MUKDAHAN : This northeastern province has enjoyed little benefit from the bridge linking it with Savannakhet province in Laos, according to the provincial Federation of Thai Industries.
Federation member Pariyavis Tantiritthisak said Mukdahan has not fulfilled its campaign projecting the province as a ''trade and tourism gateway to Indochina'' to reap benefits from the Thai-Lao bridge, which was opened on Dec 20, 2006.
The bridge is part of the East-West Corridor project under the Asian Development Bank, which links northeastern Thailand with Vietnam through a road in southern Laos.
Mr Pariyavis slammed the government for its lack of direction in developing the province. He said inflated land prices were obstructing a plan to turn the province into an industrial centre to serve trade and economic links with Vietnam.
He also said the bridge had been detrimental to tourism in the area, as Thai holidaymakers going to Vietnam now bypassed the northeastern province.
''They only stop briefly in Mukdahan to refresh themselves,'' he added.
''We had big dreams [for the bridge], but we had no plan to make them happen,'' Mr Pariyavis said.
Savannakhet is faced with the same problem, but it is fighting for tourists' attentions by building a casino and an air link with Bangkok.
The Savan Vegas casino complex will be opened next month and Lao Aviation will offer direct flights between Savannakhet and Bangkok three times a week from Oct 28.
Mr Pariyavis predicted that once the casino is opened, it would attract visitors to the Lao province, further worsening Mukdahan's tourism situation.
He called for serious efforts from all Thai agencies concerned to realise the development goal for the province
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