Cambodia row hits seaside market
Traders, tour operators and business owners say they are bearing the brunt of prolonged security restrictions, with no clear sign of relief in sight.
The measures, imposed by the Chanthaburi-Trat Border Protection Command on June 24, were aimed at tightening control at the Thai-Cambodian border, banning cross-border trade, tourism and goods transport. Although there has since been a partial relaxation, allowing Cambodian citizens to cross using border passes, the local economy has yet to recover.
A visit to the area revealed shuttered shops stretching along the waterfront. Only one store remained open -- a small family-run shop owned by 64-year-old Pirom Thongkham.
"There are no tourists, no customers. Some days, I make nothing at all. But this is my space, and I'll keep it open," he said, standing beside shelves stacked with unsold snacks and household goods. "The silence is painful, but I understand that national security must come first. I only hope things improve soon."
The market, which previously housed over 50 traders, now has fewer than 10 stalls operating, with nearly 90% of vendors gone. Even the local 7-Eleven has temporarily closed, with owner Somchai Kimsroi citing uncertainty and plummeting demand.
"Supplies can't reach customers in Koh Kong [in Cambodia] anymore. We used to send Thai goods to Cambodia daily -- now nothing gets through," said Mr Somchai, who also runs a wholesale business supplying essential items to Cambodian retailers. "Even locals here aren't shopping. It's best to close, for now."
Across the border in Koh Kong, the impact is equally severe. Pornchai Limploypipat, head of guest services at Koh Kong Resort and a cross-border trader, said shelves in Cambodian markets are now bare of popular Thai products, such as instant noodles and snacks.
Vendors are resorting to imports from Vietnam, but these are less popular and of lower quality, he said.
"Demand remains for Thai goods, but there's no supply," Mr Pornchai said. "It's not just snacks -- even fuel and construction materials are running low."
The economic ripple effect of the border closure is now being felt beyond the market stalls.
Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of the Mekong Institute, said the standoff between Thailand and Cambodia at the border has begun to undermine investor confidence.
"The border economy is incredibly sensitive," he noted. "Delays in resolving the standoff could drive Cambodian traders towards alternative markets like Vietnam -- and once that shift happens, regaining ground becomes difficult."
Mr Suriyan added that while tensions at the leadership level may have flared online, diplomatic and economic cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia continues under regional frameworks, such as Asean and the Mekong subregion.
"This is not the first time we've had cross-border friction. We've always found a way back to dialogue," he said. "But border communities can't wait indefinitely."
Back in Had Lek, Mr Pirom keeps sweeping the entrance to his shop each morning, waiting.
"I was a child during the war. I remember hiding in bomb shelters, praying for peace. I don't want to go back to that," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
4 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Repeated threats from homeland prompt Cambodians' exodus
CHON BURI: Cambodian workers are being forced to leave Thailand amid threats from their homeland that they would otherwise lose their properties and citizenships, according to Thai employers and their Cambodian workers in this eastern province. Chitipat Janthong, a 55-year-old contractor who was building a 30-million-baht residence in tambon Pong of Bang Lamung district, said on Sunday that dozens of his Cambodian workers left his company for their homeland despite his efforts to retain them. Mr Chitipat said the Thai-Cambodian border conflict had seriously affected his decades-long business because most of his construction workers were Cambodian. He preferred Cambodian workers for their good behaviour and construction skills. After border clashes had erupted, he said, relatives in Cambodia have been calling migrant workers in Thailand, warning them their property and passports would be seized unless they returned home immediately, according to Thai contractor Chitipat. Workers were also told there would be no Cambodian consulate in Thailand and that they could face assaults from Thais, along with other alarming rumours. 'These messages deeply worried many Cambodian workers, and most eventually decided to leave,' Mr Chitipat said, adding that he now has only seven Cambodian employees left. Dam, a 40-year-old Cambodian who has worked for Mr Chitipat for five years, said many of his compatriots had already gone back because of the rumours. He chose to stay at his employer's request, explaining that returning home would leave him jobless and unable to repay a housing loan. 'I don't want a war between Thailand and Cambodia,' he said. Speedboat builder Sitthikorn Pomthong, 42, said Cambodians once made up over 80% of his workforce in tambon Huai Yai, Bang Lamung district, but half had already left. Their relatives, quoting village headmen, urged them to return or risk losing land and citizenship, and claimed they could be assaulted or mistreated by Thai medical staff. 'I tried to guarantee their safety, but it didn't work,' Mr Sitthikorn said, noting his factory now faces a severe labour shortage. Ta, a 34-year-old Cambodian employee at the factory, said friends urged him to leave but he stayed because he trusted his employer and believed the Thai government respected Cambodian workers. He no longer watches Cambodian news, saying it would only worry him. 'I don't want Cambodians to hate Thais,' he said. 'Thailand is a safe place for Cambodian workers.'
Bangkok Post
10 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
The hidden power of strategic adaptability
Across boardrooms in Thailand and Southeast Asia, one question is rising above the noise: How do we stay relevant in a world that keeps shifting under our feet? In my work with leaders and organisations across the region, I have seen that what used to set high performers apart — efficiency, expertise, even innovation — is no longer enough. The edge today belongs to something deeper, less visible, but more powerful: Strategic adaptability. This is not about simply reacting or being flexible. It is about evolving deliberately, continuously and with clarity of purpose — faster than the environment around us. It is the ability to transform without losing your centre. Just look at the signals. Amazon moved beyond retail to become a global tech infrastructure leader. LVMH modernised luxury while protecting its soul. Thai banks now operate more like digital ecosystems than traditional lenders. These are not random pivots. They reflect a new leadership capability — adaptive strategy in action. So how do we build this into our leadership and culture? 1. Shift from static plans to scenario thinking In today's world, fixed strategies expire quickly. The most resilient companies prepare for multiple futures. They ask bold 'what if' questions: What if our supply chain changes overnight? What if talent spreads across borders? What if the next generation demands meaning over structure? This mindset shift allows us to stay sharp without being shaken. 2. Grow leaders who can lead through uncertainty I often say: confidence is important, but what matters more today is clarity amid complexity. Leaders must act without perfect data, hold tension without shutting down and still create momentum. This is not just a leadership skill, it is an emotional capability — and one that must be intentionally developed. 3. Build cultures that learn faster than they fail The best teams are not the ones that avoid mistakes. They are the ones that learn faster. They reflect, course-correct and stay open. They reward curiosity, not just outcomes. They build trust by being real. If your culture resists reflection or hides behind silence, you are already slowing down. 4. Design around customers, not control Many Thai organisations are still structured for internal control rather than external relevance. But in today's world, value is created with customers, not just delivered to them. The most successful companies organise for speed, feedback and impact. They move with their market — not after it. Adaptability is not soft. It is strategic. It is what allows us to respond with intention instead of fear. In a region as dynamic as ours, it is not enough to keep up — we must lead the pace of change. The real question is not, 'What is the plan?' It is, 'What are we capable of becoming before the world forces us to change?' This is the mindset I believe we need to cultivate — within our teams, our organisations and ourselves. or visit her LinkedIn profile.
Bangkok Post
11 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Thai-Cambodian border clash clean-up
Clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border have dealt a heavy blow to the Northeast's economy, with trade losses in four provinces alone estimated at up to 500 million baht a month. The border conflict and the closure of several checkpoints since early June had disrupted cross-border commerce, resulting in the losses, says Manatchai Jungtrakool, deputy director of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) Northeastern Office in Khon Kaen. Before the conflict escalated, Thai-Cambodian border trade averaged 10 billion baht per month. Of this, 95% took place through eastern checkpoints in Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat. The rest -- worth about 500 million baht per month -- was channelled through northeastern provinces including Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Buri Ram. These four provinces are now bearing the brunt of halted trade activity, he said. The impact extends beyond goods, Mr Manatchai noted. Over 10,000 Cambodians typically cross into Thailand each month to access services, including retail and medical treatment. These activities have also been curtailed, adding to economic hardship. Cross-border agricultural efforts have been disrupted as well, with reports of Cambodian shelling damaging farmland and delaying harvests in affected Isan communities. Local financial institutions have offered relief measures such as extended loan repayments and additional credit to affected individuals and businesses. The BoT is encouraging residents to contact their local banks for assistance, he said. Tourism takes a hit, too The fallout is not limited to commerce. Tourism operators, particularly in provinces near the border, are also feeling the strain as visitor confidence dips. Nor is the drop in confidence limited to border areas. Thanet Supornsahasrangsi, president of the Tourism Council of Chon Buri, reported a spike in inquiries from prospective visitors, particularly regarding safety in Pattaya and other coastal areas in Chon Buri. But in eastern border provinces such as Trat and Chanthaburi, hotel bookings have plummeted by 50%, he said. While the high season, which starts in late November, typically attracts long-haul travellers fleeing cold climates, continued unrest may drive them away, potentially to rival destinations. The council still sees some positive signs, he said. Chinese tourist arrivals have rebounded slightly. Promotional efforts in Chinese cities have been well received, but border tensions and the strength of the baht remain obstacles to full recovery. Sinchai Wattanasathorn, a hotel operator in Pattaya, said that while businesses have adapted since the Covid-19 pandemic by reducing staff and cutting costs, a prolonged conflict could necessitate deeper changes. His Flipper hotel chain reports a 20% drop in tourist numbers during the first six months compared to the same period last year. "If this border conflict is not fully resolved, we may be forced into a major restructuring," he said, warning an extended slump could threaten the industry's long-term stability. Labour flows blocked The border tensions are also disrupting the movement of workers, especially in Trat's Khlong Yai district, where Cambodian labourers -- particularly daily wage earners -- have been allowed to return home but are now barred from re-entering Thailand via permanent checkpoints. This has left local businesses grappling with a sudden loss of manpower. Pol Col Kittipat Paopiamsap, chief of Trat's immigration office, said several hundred Cambodian workers who used to cross the border daily have now returned to Cambodia and cannot return to Thailand. Only a limited number of contract workers remain, and further departures are likely as they are not certain if the conflict will erupt again. "The key signal for improvement would be the reopening of the Hat Lek checkpoint," he said. "If there is a relaxation allowing goods to be brought into Cambodia, the situation would improve. Until people can move freely for work and tourism, normalcy is out of reach." Villagers begin returning Beyond the figures, the conflict has uprooted about 180,000 villagers. Many sought refuge in temporary shelters far from their homes, livelihoods and livestock -- and are now beginning the journey back. At the shelter at Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram's Muang district, villagers who fled the fighting welcomed the outcome of the peace talks and expressed relief at being able to resume their daily routines. They loaded clothes and belongings onto vehicles for the journey back to Ban Kruat district, one of the areas hardest hit by the fighting. They were eager to tend to livestock left behind for more than two weeks. However, many remain cautious, doubting whether Cambodia will honour the ceasefire agreement. Despite concerns, they chose to return home to work and repay their debts. They said if fighting resumes, they would evacuate again for their safety. Aew Kiram, 42, from Ban Kruat, who fled with her husband and children, said the shelter staff cared for them well but it was not the same as home. She felt stressed from being unable to work. Her main income comes from rubber tapping, earning 5,000–6,000 baht weekly. During the conflict, it dropped to zero, yet expenses and debts persisted, with creditors and car finance companies calling. She decided to return home to tap rubber and repay her debts despite still doubting Cambodia's sincerity. Another villager, Winai Takengphon, also returning home with his family in Ban Kruat, said he hoped no further fighting would occur, as the conflict had affected livelihoods on both sides. "After more than two weeks away from home, I long for our normal life and hope it will return as soon as possible," he said.
