Thanet Wattanakul and Sakkarin Nonthapot
This study aimed to examine the situation, general management and performance of the international private transportation services of passengers between Thailand and the Laos PDR at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge. Other objectives were to analyze the market structure, competition behavior and the results of passenger transportation industry’s performance. This study also aimed to propose policy recommendations in order to enhance efficiency and performance development. Both primary and secondary data were obtained by interviewing two entrepreneurs chosen by purposive sampling and analyzing monthly data obtained from related public and private organizations over the period July 2007 to June 2010. Entrepreneurs provided international bus services from cities within Thailand (Khon Kaen and Udon Thani) and the Lao PDR, regular shuttle buses at the bridge, and private hire vans and buses. The results showed two companies operating in an oligopolistic market structure. The performance of both companies is nearly the same. The efficiency index measurement utilized for both companies were the same; however the results were slightly different. The levels of technology application within both organizations were also similar. Policy recommendations for efficiency and performance development are as follows. Entrepreneurs should increase the frequency of services as well as the number and variety of vehicles available to passengers and each vehicle should run at full capacity. Improving the services to be more convenient in terms of the speed, safety and efficiency is also necessary.
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