Members of the group protecting Doi Luang mountain range in Chiang Dao district say they oppose construction of a cable car system. Shown here, Patcharin Sukansilp presents the group’s case for more transparency.

When Cyriel Van Tilborgh from Antwerp in Belgium visited Chiang Mai in August to exchange memories of Expedition Mekong 2002 (see Chiang Mai Mail Vol. III No. 36), we had the ambitious idea of making a survey trip to Kyaing Tong in the eastern part of Myanmar. Knowing that there is now an improved and paved road from Tachilek to Kyaing Tong, we started our trip with an almost 40 year old Land Rover in the early morning of August 28.

In the wake of the recent Olympic Games in Athens, around 200 handicapped northern youths, aged 12-18 assembled in Chiang Mai for the Special Olympic Games on September 10.

Foreign trade with northern neighbours grows

Foreign trade in Chiang Rai province in the first seven months of this year was valued at over 3 billion baht, of which almost 2.5 billion baht was earned from exports to China, Myanmar and Laos.

Compared with the same period last year, foreign trade grew by 19 percent. However, the amount of imports almost doubled, causing this year’s trade deficit. Noticeably, goods imported from Myanmar increased by almost 400 percent, with clothes, gems, cows and buffalos, second hand cars, garlic, wine and whisky being the main imports.

American Jack Kelly, consultant to J.E. Austin & Associates and the Kenan Institute Asia in Bangkok has spelt out some of the problems and solutions for Chiang Mai’s tourism. He made a high-tech presentation to the Informal Northern Thai Group at their meeting held at the Alliance Francaise in Chiang Mai on September 7. Approximately 40 visitors attended, including tourism-related entrepreneurs.