Preah Vihear temple as seen from the Thai side.
SI SA KET, Feb 10 (TNA) - Thailand's Khao Phra Viharn National Park in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket bordering Cambodia is scheduled to reopen for tourism on Tuesday.
Si Sa Ket governor Seni Jittakasem said earlier that Second Army Region commander Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak Neepal had approved a provincial proposal to reopen Thailand's Preah Vihear historical area for tourists after its temporary closure last year.
The national park on the Thai-Cambodian border has been closed since July 2008 due to the border dispute between the two neighbouring countries.
Mr. Seni said that he and other officials had submitted letters to Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak and the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to ask for reopening the site for tourism as the situation along the border has now returned to normal.
Tension rose after Preah Vihear was awarded heritage status by the United Nations last year. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but the demarcation of the surrounding land remains in dispute.
Four Cambodian soldiers were killed in an exchange of gunfire with Thai troops along a disputed section of the border last July.
The official ceremony of the national park, including Kantharalak district's Pha Mor-E-Daeng cliff, is set for early April.
Traders at the Chong Jom border crossing in Thailand's Surin province welcomed the reopening, saying it would help boost their trade and tourism as well as reduce tension along the border after staggering border trade for over seven months since the closure.
Trade at the Chong Jom-O'Samach border crossing was valued at over Bt600 million in 2008, with Thai exports totalling Bt500 million and Cambodian imports valued at Bt100 million.
Thai exports to Cambodia included gasoline, consumer products, cement, zinc, construction materials and used cars, while Thailand imported mainly used clothing, used bicycles, liquor and cigarettes from Cambodia. (TNA)
Si Sa Ket governor Seni Jittakasem said earlier that Second Army Region commander Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak Neepal had approved a provincial proposal to reopen Thailand's Preah Vihear historical area for tourists after its temporary closure last year.
The national park on the Thai-Cambodian border has been closed since July 2008 due to the border dispute between the two neighbouring countries.
Mr. Seni said that he and other officials had submitted letters to Lt-Gen. Wiboonsak and the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to ask for reopening the site for tourism as the situation along the border has now returned to normal.
Tension rose after Preah Vihear was awarded heritage status by the United Nations last year. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but the demarcation of the surrounding land remains in dispute.
Four Cambodian soldiers were killed in an exchange of gunfire with Thai troops along a disputed section of the border last July.
The official ceremony of the national park, including Kantharalak district's Pha Mor-E-Daeng cliff, is set for early April.
Traders at the Chong Jom border crossing in Thailand's Surin province welcomed the reopening, saying it would help boost their trade and tourism as well as reduce tension along the border after staggering border trade for over seven months since the closure.
Trade at the Chong Jom-O'Samach border crossing was valued at over Bt600 million in 2008, with Thai exports totalling Bt500 million and Cambodian imports valued at Bt100 million.
Thai exports to Cambodia included gasoline, consumer products, cement, zinc, construction materials and used cars, while Thailand imported mainly used clothing, used bicycles, liquor and cigarettes from Cambodia. (TNA)
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