CROSSINGS made by tourists and traders across the Cambodia-Thailand border are still going strong, officials said yesterday, despite political turmoil and a deadly border clash.

“Everything is normal,” said Sao Bunrith, chief of the Poipet border checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province, the main crossing to Thailand.  

“They [international tourists] are still crossing everyday – it is not a problem. Cambodian and Thai people are still doing business normally,” he added.

Officials said that many Thais – benefiting from a visa exemption programme introduced late last year – flooded across the border to enjoy Cambodia’s casinos during Chinese New Year, as violence broke out at Preah Vihear.

Last month saw the number crossings made at the checkpoint total 251,597. This was an increase of 25 percent on the same month of 2010, according to deputy Poipet border chief Tem Yady.

Kong Sophearak, director of the Department of Statistics and Information at the Ministry of Tourism, added that the Poipet was traditionally the most popular land crossing.