Bullish shopping at Thailand's border market

SA KAEO, THAILAND, January 3 (TNA) - Shopping at Rong Kluea Market, a largest border market in Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo Province opposite Cambodia, has been packed with shoppers, a number of whom are New Year revellers making a stopover there before heading back to Bangkok and other destinations after their New Year holidays, causing a traffic snarl for over three kilometres. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaturapat Singhut-thit, Chief of Khlong Leuk Police Station, told reporters that the New Year revellers have stopped at the Rong Kluea Market for shopping since early Saturday morning, causing a heavy traffic, while he believed that over 20 million baht should, thus, be changed hands there only on January 3 alone. Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith noted while inspecting traffic in Phitsanulok Province in the Lower Thai North, where people have been heading back to Bangkok after enjoying their New Year holidays, that the number of road accidents usually increase after revellers concluding their New Year holidays. Arkhom, who is also Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), asked motorists to, therefore, drive carefully, as a number of people are returning home this weekend to resume their work next Monday. Combined government forces were seen providing security for New Year celebrants and international tourists buying goods as souvenirs for their relatives and friends before returning to Bangkok or their native cities. (TNA)