Myanmar

Myanmar nationals who escaped the fighting between an armed ethnic Karen force and Myanmar government troops and fled into Thailand's border provinces of Kanchanaburi and Tak have returned to their homeland as hostilities have eased.

Construction of the new Chiang Khong bridge across the Mekong River, as part of the North–South Economic Corridor project linking Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China, is expected to start in March, according to Veera Ruangsooksriwong, director–general of Thailand’s Highways Department.

The Ministry of Commerce planned to promote exports to neighboring countries Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam this year in expecting to increase sales by 10 percent.

Thousands of ethnic Karen villagers have fled across the border into Thailand in recent weeks in the wake of Myanmar army attacks on Karen rebels.

Thailand — With the ASEAN member countries having agreed to develop the Buddhist Circuit/Pilgrimage Tourism for ASEAN and India, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is positive that this will be another great effort which will encourage all members to work together in close cooperation in tourism promotion and marketing within ASEAN.