Tourism Indochina: Cambodia names new envoy to Philippines

Cambodia names new envoy to Philippines

Cambodia has a new ambassador to the Philippines.

A week after former envoy Hos Sereythonh was recalled amid a firestorm over comments made in a Philippine newspaper, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tapped veteran diplomat Tuot Panha for the post, ministry spokesman Koy Kuong confirmed yesterday.

On July 9, following a contentious ASEAN Foreign Ministers summit in Phnom Penh in which backroom bickering over the South China Sea prevented the signing of a joint communiqué – a first in 45 years of such meetings – Sereythonh accused a Filipino diplomat of playing “dirty politics” in an op-ed piece that ran in The Philippine Star.

The former ambassador also took the governments of the Philippines and Vietnam – a fellow claimant to areas of the sea claimed by China – to task, saying they had wanted to “sabatoge and hijack” the joint communiqué by insisting references to the dispute be part of the language.

The Philippine government subsequently publicly summoned Sereythonh to explain the comments, an offer Sereythonh declined to accept, sending a deputy in his stead.

Yesterday, the government continued to deny that ending Sereythonh’s term as ambassador was connected with the row – a theory widely touted in the Filipino press – insisting it was simply the end of his assignment.

“The changing of the ambassador is a normal diplomatic issue,” Koy Kuong said.

“Other countries do the same thing . . . removing the ambassador from one country or to another country. I don’t think this is strange.”

Panha, currently, an undersecretary of state, has been at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for many years. He previously served as deputy cabinet chief for Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

Asked if the new ambassador would be mending fences with the Philippines, Koy Kuong said that would not be necessary.

“We still have a good relationship [with the Philippines],” he said.

Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez and ambassador to Cambodia Noe Wong did not respond to inquiries from the Post yesterday.

Source: Phnompenhpost/17August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Preah Vihear to get new border crossing

Preah Vihear to get new border crossing

The Cambodian government is seeking a new international border checkpoint in Preah Vihear province to link with Thailand’s Ubun province, officials say.

Preah Vihear provincial governor Um Mara said officials from both countries had met to examine the possibility of opening a new international checkpoint.

“These days, this gateway is open only two days a week, but we want it to become an international checkpoint that is open every day of the week,” Mara said.

There is no scheduled deadline to open the new international checkpoint, to be named Anses, because discussions are still in the early stages.

“We are preparing the infrastructure there first, but the opening date is unknown at this time,” Mara said.

When the gateway becomes an international checkpoint, it will allow more goods to be transported through, and tourism in the province would soar as a result.

Kong Vibol, director of the Tourism Department in Preah Vihear province, said the Preah Vihear temple was only a 60-kilometre drive from Anses.

Ho Vandy, co-chair of the Tourism Task Force of the Government-Private Forum, said he welcomed the news.

Opening the gateway would open the area up to the tourism industry, as associations have suggested since March, 2008.

Source: Phnompenhpost/16August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: British government bids for post-Olympic tourism boost

British government bids for post-Olympic tourism boost

LONDON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Tuesday said it hopes the London 2012 Olympics would give a boost to tourism to the country, particularly from China.

Addressing tourism industry leaders in London, British Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the British government was hoping to create a lasting tourism legacy from the Olympic games.

The British government has set out a strategy focusing on attracting visitors from China. It said there is potential to triple the number of Chinese tourists to Britain to 500,000 a year, which could generate more than 500 million pounds (784 million U.S. dollars) in extra spending and create more than 14,000 jobs in Britain.

About 150,000 Chinese tourists came to Britain last year. The number of Chinese visitors to France, in the meantime, were some 50 percent higher.

Key to the British tourism boosting strategy is an 8-million-pound marketing campaign focused on China.

The new tourism campaign will increase marketing in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, and will look to improve flight links between the two countries.

The British government aims to increase the number of overseas visitors to Britain from just over 30 million currently to 40 million by 2020.

"We must use this extraordinary year to turbocharge our tourism industry, to create jobs and prosperity on the back of a globally-enhanced reputation," Hunt said.

At the same time, the secretary also hoped to boost domestic tourism. The British government plans to invest 2 million pounds in marketing to encourage Britons to take a holiday within the country.

Source: Xinhua/15August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Upswing in tourists equals more operators

Upswing in tourists equals more operators

The number of tour operators registered with Ministry of Tourism increased by more than 10 per cent in the first half of this year compared to last year due to an upswing in the number of tourists visiting the Kingdom, insiders say.

Figures from the tourism ministry showed newly registrated tour companies reached 568 companies in the first six months while the figures for last year were only 516 tour companies, for the same period. Among those companies last year, 403 were head offices and 113 branches in the provinces. Head offices increased to 459, but the brances decreased by 4 in the first six months of 2012.

Prak Chandara, director of the Tourism Industry Department of the Ministry of Tourism, said the increase in the number of tour companies resulted from an increase in the number of tourists visiting Cambodia.

“Registration increased because they are seeing more tourists come through,” he said.

Among those companies, 205 companies, which are members of Cambodian Association of Travel Agents (CATA), have 76 branches in provinces, mostly in Siem Reap province.

Ang Kim Eang, president of CATA, agreed with Prak Chandara and said some newly established companies were preparing themselves for the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

"When the ASEAN Economic Community comes into force in 2015, there would be an increase in the easy circulation of goods, but tourists from the region as well", he said. “This is good preparation for Khmer tour operators,” he said, adding: “I think that some companies will be ready to open branches in other countries by 2015.”

Phoan Sopheak, tour operator at Angkor Seventh Travel company in Phnom Penh, said he saw the numbers of tourists increase considerably in recent months, particularly in Siem Reap where there were crowds of tourists, even thoughout the rainy season.

Source: Phnompenhpost/15August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Tourism entrepreneurs get connected

Tourism entrepreneurs get connected

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has begun matching tourism entrepreneurs in an effort to provide better quality services to tourists in Cambodia, company officials say.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of PATA’s Cambodia chapter, said the matches would allow better quality services among the tourism entrepreneurs of Cambodia to thrive.

“This is the best channel for connecting you to the people you need to know,” he said, adding that “it’s not just about what we know, but who we know in this business.”

The purpose of matching entrepreneurs is to strengthen relations, extend business networks, raise awareness of important issues, and to save time in Cambodia’s tourism industry, according to a press release from PATA.

Nuon Someth, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Tourism, said late last week that this was the second time PATA organised entrepreneur matching, and 63 companies took part, compared to only 40 companies during the previous event.

“We can consider this event as an important one for participating in improving tourism sector in Cambodia,” he said.

Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism show the number of international tourists visiting Cambodia grew almost 27 per cent in the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Visitors coming to Cambodia during the first six months of the year numbered 1,756,652, compared to 1,385,029 in 2011.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said the tourism situation in the Asia Pacific region and ASEAN, in particular, is better than other areas of the world.

Source: Phnompenhpost/13August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Tourism project puts temple on road to recovery

Tourism project puts temple on road to recovery

Walking the vine-wreathed paths of Banteay Chhmar, a 12th-century temple near the Thai border that some call the “second Angkor Wat” feels like sneaking into a renowned historical site after the tour guides and the tourists have all gone home.

The pervasive silence can strike a first-time visitor as odd, given that the temple is open to anyone who embarks on the trip. But it is far from abnormal, say members of the Community-Based Tourism project in Banteay Chhmar village, an initiative supported by the group restoring the temple, Global Heritage Fund.

Hampered by its isolation and working on a shoestring budget, the project has made slow, but steady, progress since its inception five years ago. The number of sightseers goes up and down.

“Some days, one person will sit alone in the temple, some days, there is a group, and some days, no one visits the temple,” says the local director, Tath Sophal, while balancing himself against scaffolding on top of a section of ruins.

“The tourists who want to visit here, they always ask when they email, ‘What about the road?’ he said.

That road, a 69-kilometre sun-baked stretch of potholes, is a turbulent, two-hour ride from sleepy Sisophon town in northwestern Banteay Meanchey.

And that’s without inclement weather.

When the potholes collect water, as they have a habit of doing during the rainy season, the moist clay soil creates muddy, slippery impasses. Towards the end of last year, when the country experienced major flooding, four or five tour groups cancelled their visits.

Although inaccessibility is a problem tourism infrastructure and the financial benefits that go with it have been growing year after year.

In 2007, when the program was established, 281 people visited Banteay Chhmar, which archaeologists believe was built by King Jayavarman VII during the Angkorian period.

The temple, though in disrepair, retains ornate bas-reliefs carved into walls depicting military confrontations between ancient Khmer soldiers and Cham armies.

The first year, tourists only spent around $3,000. Through a number of expanded activities, the project boosted revenue and took in $10,000 last year. In the period of January through July of 2012, visitors and profits were up 25 per cent, Sophal said.

Even the forbidding road that everyone emails about is getting a long overdue makeover, courtesy of the Asian Development Bank. Construction should be finished by the end of 2013.

The project trained tour guides in English, introduced scenic ox-cart rides and offered cooked meals at the office.

Tourists can also sleep over at “homestays,” in which four families have refurbished parts of their residences as modest guest houses.

“I like hosting the tourists when they come here,” said Siem Seiv, 64, who arrived in the dusty and placid area of 1,200 families in 1993, after spending time in a Thai refugee camp following Khmer Rouge rule.

Siev and his family partitioned off a half the second floor, two bedrooms in total, for overnight guests.

“So we are like one family together,” Siev said. Although he makes about $400 a year from the homestay, it’s not enough, he says, explaining that he farms for extra income.

Most of the tour guides have two, or even three, jobs because giving tours is not steady full-time work.

Peat Pel, 38, is a guide, a moto taxi driver, a traditional music teacher and a farmer. He needs the extra work to help raise his two kids. He’s been taking intensive English classes for the past year as part of an agreement with tutors in Siem Reap.

Learning English will help him be a better guide, he says. But first, more tourists need to come.

“Right now it’s not sustainable yet, because the money is only a little,” Peat Pel says.

Source: Phnompenhpost/13August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: A very Jolie birthday for Cambodian son

A very Jolie birthday for Cambodian son

He's the lucky Cambodian son hand-picked by Hollywood royalty – the adopted child of the film star Angelina Jolie, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, turned 11 years old yesterday.

Cambodian well-wishers posted messages online in tribute to the boy. Internet users on the local blog Sabay wished him good health.

Maddox, who was originally known as Rath Vibol, was adopted from an orphanage in the country at seven months old.

He is the eldest child of Jolie and her fiancé, actor Brad Pitt.

They went to the orphanage in 2002 while she was in Cambodia filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and also working as a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

A year after the adoption she set up the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation in Battambang province, a project dedicated to community development and environmental preservation.

The adoption caused controversy in the United States when allegations were made that the actress paid Maddox’s birth parents to give him up.

The orphanage in Cambodia said that his parents had passed away and nobody has come forward claiming to be his original parents.

Although Jolie and her then-husband Billy Bob Thornton announced the adoption together, she adopted Maddox as a single parent before she met actor Brad Pitt in 2005.

The couple announced their engagement in April. They have three adopted children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, and three biological children, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.

Source: Phnompenhpost/6August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Vietnam to receive near 4 mln foreign tourists in 7 months

Vietnam to receive near 4 mln foreign tourists in 7 months

HANOI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is expected to welcome more than 3.83 million foreign visitors in the first seven months of 2012, a 10.8 percent increase over the same period last year, reported the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on Friday.

Of the figure, over 3.2 million visitors came to Vietnam by air, accounting for nearly 84 percent of the total number of foreign visitors to Vietnam and an increase of 10.5 percent year-on-year.

The number of tourists arriving by sea is forecast to see the highest increase of 55 percent, reaching over 38,600 person-times while over 578,500 visitors arrived in Vietnam by land.

China, South Korea, Japan and the United States remained the leading markets for the Vietnamese tourism.

During the period, the market saw a strong growth in number of Japanese and South Korean tourists with 21 percent and 38 percent year-on-year, respectively.

In July alone, the country is expected to receive about 466,000 international tourists, up 11.6 percent over June but down 7.9 percent year-on-year.

Since July 1, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has officially opened counters to refund Value Added Tax (VAT) to foreign visitors at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat International Airports. This is one of the measures to boost the sale of goods and promote the country's tourism sector.

This year, Vietnam set target of receiving 6.5 million foreign visitors and 32 million domestic travelers with the revenue of 150 trillion Vietnamese dong (7.2 billion U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua/27July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Cambodia's airports too pricey for AirAsia

Cambodia's airports too pricey for AirAsia

While AirAsia, one of the world’s largest low-cost airline, is gearing toward an expansion in the region, the company’s chief executive said that serving Cambodia was expensive due to high airport fees.

Airport charges are high and restrictive, as are over-flight fees, compared to other countries in the region – a factor that will influence the company’s decision whether to increase flights and destinations in the Kingdom.

“I’ve always had a bit of a problem with airports in Cambodia,” Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s group CEO, said Tuesday at the launch of its ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta.

“But I know the Cambodian government is looking at it right now, because when they did those airports, there were no low-cost carriers.”

Aviation authorities in Cambodia could not be reached yesterday.

After 10 years of focusing on the Malaysian hub in which it started, the company will turn expansion efforts toward reaching a wider set of ASEAN destinations, specifically those in the region’s largest market, Indonesia.

The new HQ launch came on the eve of so-called “ASEAN Day”, marking the 45th anniversary of the economic bloc’s establishment.

Fernandes called Indonesia the “heart of ASEAN” and said attempts to grow further beyond the borders of its 10 member states, home to 690 million people, would come only after continued development within.

“When I started, everyone was talking about India and China. But we were looking at ASEAN,” he said, framing the carrier as an “ASEAN company”.

There is still room for growth in Cambodia, Fernandes noted. AirAsia will meet with Cambodian government officials at the end of August or the beginning of September to further address problems that might stymie growth in air travel.

He also expressed interest in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville airport, which sees little activity outside of charter flights.

“You have a fantastic airport in Sihanoukville where very few airlines are flying to right now. That would be an airport we’re interested in developing,” Fernandes said.

AirAsia is in talks with Indonesian carrier Batavia, but the government may review the proposed acquisition. The airline encountered regulatory problems in Vietnam last year during an attempted joint venture with VietJet. The deal was subsequently called off.

The Bursa, Malaysia-listed company has joint ventures in Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

AirAsia Bhd closed up about 0.3 per cent yesterday at 3.7 ringgit (US$1.2).

While AirAsia flights from Cambodia are limited to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, efforts to enhance regional tourism have benefited the Kingdom indirectly, said Meng Hient, a Cambodian Association of Travel Agents member and owner of Exotissimo Travel Group.

“They don’t seem to be very active in Cambodia, but on the outside they are doing a lot to promote their destinations in the region,” he said. This is bringing tourists to ASEAN, many of whom will pass through Cambodia at some point during their journey.

The lower ticketing prices have indeed allowed for lower-income groups to travel between ASEAN states, Meng Hient said. The point was emphasised by Fernandes on Tuesday.

At a time when Asia’s economic spotlight seems fixed on China, AirAsia’s ASEAN business has brought increased connectivity to the region, Mohan Gunti, a member of Cambodia’s Tourism Working Group, said recently.

“It’s bringing more focus to ASEAN’s potential … It’s truly an ASEAN airliner that’s connecting the region,” he said.

Source: Phnompenhpost/9August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Beijing sees slow growth in tourism

Beijing sees slow growth in tourism

BEIJING, Aug.4 (Xinhuanet) -- Despite the increasing number of tourists from abroad that Beijing received in the first half of the year, the growth is slowing down.

The capital welcomed more than 2.5 million tourists from overseas - including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan - in the first half of the year, an increase of 4.2 percent year-on-year.

However, the growth has slowed since the second quarter of the year and is expected to continue slowing down, according to the Beijing Tourism Development Committee.

"The capital will come up with more measures and policies to attract inbound tourists," Lu Yong, director of the committee, said at a meeting in Beijing on Friday.

Places of historical interest and scenic beauty have long been attractive for overseas tourists, according to the committee.

An official with the marketing office of the Badaling section of the Great Wall said that Badaling received about 320,000 overseas tourists in the first six months, up 6.7 percent over the same period of last year.

Most of the inbound tourists are from Asia, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Asian tourists make up 48.5 percent of all the people, a 1.9 percent year-on-year increase. Next are European tourists, accounting for 25.1 percent with a year-on-year increase of 8.4 percent, and American tourists, who account for 20.5 percent of the total, according to the committee.

However, even though inbound tourism has seen a year-on-year growth of 9.1 percent in the first quarter, the growth for the second quarter slowed to 1 percent, partly due to the slow recovery of the global economy and the budget deficit, debt and unemployment problems that are hitting many developed countries, the committee said in a report on Friday.

On the other hand, outbound tourism, thanks to the appreciation of the yuan and the promotion of foreign destinations, has outperformed its inbound counterpart, with more than 1.2 million outbound tourists in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 69.2 percent, according to the committee.

The committee said that the deceleration of inbound tourism might continue until the second half of the year.

To further boost the capital's inbound tourism, the city is likely to introduce a 72-hour window to explore the city without a visa, and other policies, according to the committee.

Kajiya Yoichi, an accountant now living in his native Japan, has always wanted to come back to China, where he spent years studying in Tsinghua University, to explore the ancient city again with his family.

However, the visa is a barrier for him.

"If the 72-hour-window is implemented, I bet many potential foreign tourists like me would love to give the city a tour," said the man in his 30s. "Three days would be enough for foreigners to explore the city."

A coordination group has been set up to facilitate the implementation of the policy, said the committee.

"The policy, once implemented, is expected to attract more tourists from abroad," said Lin Song, an officer at the public security bureau's exit-entry administration.

However, details of the upcoming policy were not yet revealed.

"It has been proved that the visa waiver for transit passengers could greatly benefit local inbound tourism, as many cities worldwide have implemented similar policies," said Jiang Yiyi, director of the China Tourism Academy's international tourism development institute. "A tight visa will only drive away potential foreign visitors."

The committee will also carry out more market promotion abroad to attract inbound tourists and make the capital known worldwide, especially in the emerging markets of Africa and the Middle East.

It was revealed that South Korea's Jeju Island has signed a memorandum in May with the Beijing Badaling section of the Great Wall to boost tourism development.

Source: China Daily/4August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Vietnam probes death of US, Canadian tourists

Vietnam probes death of US, Canadian tourists

HANOI: Vietnamese authorities are investigating the mysterious deaths of two tourists from the United States and Canada who stayed in the same guesthouse, official media reported Monday.

American Karin Joy Bowerman, 27, and Canadian Cathy Huynh, 26, died last week at a hospital in southern Nha Trang province, the Tuoi Tre newspaper said.

Bowerman died on July 30 after suffering "a mysterious illness" and respiratory failure, while Huynh died two days later after developing similar symptoms and suffering a cardiac arrest, the report said.

The pair, who had shared a room in a guesthouse on Nguyen Thien Thuat street in Nha Trang -- a popular backpacker area in the seaside resort -- might have "drunk too much wine" which led to their deaths, a police investigator told the paper.

The family of Huynh, a Canadian of Vietnamese descent, disputed this account, the report said, adding that police are waiting for the results of autopsy tests to establish the cause of death.

"She died because she did not receive proper medical care despite the fact that she had been admitted to the hospital 12 hours before her death," Huynh's mother, Huynh Thi Huong, told Tuoi Tre.

The family have set up an appeal to raise money to repatriate Huynh's body to Canada for a funeral, the report said.

Before their trip to Vietnam, the two women had both taught English at a university in South Korea, it added.

In June two Canadian sisters were found dead in their hotel room on a popular resort island in Thailand, showing signs of having suffered an extreme toxic reaction. The exact cause of their deaths remains unknown.

Source: AFP/ir/6August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Asian tourist numbers up, profits stagnant

Asian tourist numbers up, profits stagnant

The growth in international tourists visiting Cambodia is almost 27 per cent that of the numbers seen during the first six months of 2011, according to tourism officials who are predicting that the growth may be 25 per cent at the end of this year.

Visitors coming to Cambodia during the first six months of the year numbered 1,756,652, increasing 26.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2011, when only 1,385,029 visited the Kingdom.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said the tourism situation in the Asia Pacific in general and ASEAN in particular is better than other areas, which is not only better for the region but means that Cambodia no longer suffers from a low season in terms of tourist numbers.

“Previously, in rainy season it was considered a low season tourism but no longer because when it rains in Cambodia, in Europe it is the hot season,” he said.

The growth in tourism numbers was the result of an increase in the number of direct flights from China and Korea, good internal security, broad promotion, and strengthening tourism services, he said.

The minister expects that the increase in tourists to Cambodia may be from 20 per cent to 25 per cent by the end of this year when compared to the same period last year.

Source: Phnompenhpost/7August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Asian tourism set to grow

Asian tourism set to grow

SINGAPORE: Asian tourism is set to grow at between 4 and 6 per cent this year.

This is higher than global forecasts of 3 to 4 per cent growth according to data from the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer 2012.

Experts said the growth of low cost carriers, the middle class and increase in online bookings are just three things working for the region.

But industry players will need to collaborate to successfully ride the tourism boom.

Travel experts are singling out Indonesia as the next big market for tourism.

Its huge population base, growing middle class and diverse regions, they said, are enough to lure tourists in the years ahead.

But these visitors will likely opt for the more "localised" experience, and industry players are expected to raise the bar on the service front.

Patrick Imbardelli, president and CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said: "We're spending a lot more time training people, keeping people. We're spending a lot more (time) understanding Generation Y, Generation X and then of course, the whole retention programme. It's far more important than it ever has been."

Experts at an industry roundtable said this shift in consumer preferences is a game-changer.

For tour operators, that means creating client-specific itineraries and having local tour guides for specific locations. For hotels, that could mean designing the hotel to address various market segments.

And more travellers will be looking to the Internet to customise their trips.

Dan Lynn, CEO, AirAsiaExpedia, said: "It's a really exciting time to be in online travel in the Asia Pacific. The overall travel market is growing 6 per cent, online travel market is growing at two or three times that and our business, even faster.

"If we look ahead, a market like Japan where Expedia is already the leading outbound travel business, that business is going to continue very nicely because LCCs are moving into Japan and encouraging more travel."

Singapore sees around 30 per cent of online bookings in Asia - followed by Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The city state gets 75 per cent of tourist arrivals from Asia.

And it's hosting a travel leader's summit in October for regional players to work together.

Neeta Lachmandas, assistant chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "I think that becomes a really important platform not only for discussing their challenges but for creating new business ideas as well."

While intra-regional tourism is looking rosy, experts said there's also money to be made from visitors in the West.

Dan Lynn, CEO, AirAsiaExpedia, said: "I think the more investment is made into the tourism infrastructure in the Asia Pacific, the easier it comes in terms of visa and releasing visa restrictions, (and) the more travel you'll see for long-haul travel.

"The price of long-haul travel is also coming down... We are still seeing very healthy growth from Europe and America. And I think in a lot of the markets in Asia, the actual prices are still attractive to the American consumer or the British consumer."

Despite the economic slowdown, Pan Pacific said the hotel business also remains resilient.

Patrick Imbardelli, president and CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said: "In Singapore, (it's) very sustainable, very resilient. When you start operating at 86-88 per cent occupancy, it's strong.

"In China, it's supply and demand. There's a lot more supply coming on and demand is not growing as fast. We're concerned about the slowdown, but overall, we're comfortable that 2012 is looking very good."

Source: CNA/cc/30July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Olympics: Ghost town London searches for missing tourists

Olympics: Ghost town London searches for missing tourists

LONDON: With its half-empty restaurants and calm streets central London looks more like a ghost town than an Olympic city, and recession-hit traders are still waiting for the promised gold rush of tourists.

Sales are down across the normally crowded British capital after warnings of travel chaos and overpriced hotel rooms apparently scared off many visitors, while those who did come are staying around the Olympic Park in east London.

"Compared to last year people are just not coming," said Michelle Wade, who runs Maison Bertaux in the trendy Soho area, which claims to be London's oldest patisserie.

"It's not just for this kind of business, it's the pubs, even my friend -- he's a very well know hairdresser, but last Saturday he only had two clients. Normally it's about 24."

Halfway through the Games the mood is unusually calm in Soho, a usually busy area in the centre of the capital, several kilometres (miles) from Stratford, where the Olympic Park is located.

In an empty men's clothes store, manager Rob Grogan said there had been a 30 per cent drop in customers in the week after the Olympics started on July 27, compared to the week before that.

"We were told by Transport for London, the local council and Westminster council that we'd probably see a shop increase in footfall and traffic and the resulting increase in sales as well -- that hasn't happened," he said.

He said warnings earlier in the year to avoid central London had "scared a lot of people away from London".

In the run-up to the Olympics, commuters and tourists alike were warned to stay away, amid fears the creaking transport system could not cope with millions of athletes, support staff, media and spectators descending on the capital.

The Games have long been heralded as a key boost to the recession-hit British economy but industry body the European Tour Operators Association said tourist numbers had fallen "dramatically" since the Games began.

And the transport chaos has failed to materialise. Prime Minister David Cameron even appealed to people recently to come back into the deserted capital.

"It is rubbish, we don't want this nonsense any more," said a woman who runs several souvenir shops and stalls on Oxford Street, what is normally Europe's busiest shopping thoroughfare.

Gesturing at an empty store, the woman, who asked not to be named, added: "The tourists should be here, we rely on them, but now they are not interested. They are not spending, they don't have a penny, this is the wrong crowd."

Outside a McDonald's restaurant on Oxford Street three young tourists who came from Amsterdam to watch the qualifying rounds for the Olympic tennis and hockey were eating hamburgers.

They said they were staying at a campsite and were spending no money in central London.

"It is not why we came here, not at all," said Marianne, 27, one of the tourists.

Swedish visitors Ann and Soren Forsberg said they had come to London at the last minute to see the equestrian events and the triathlon after getting a special deal for airline tickets.

"We thought it would be sold out to come here but obviously a lot of people didn't come here at all, and hotels aren't a problem either," Ann Forsberg said.

"We haven't been in the shops, we are not here to shop this time."

But in a leafy square in the middle of Soho, two Swiss students said they were enjoying the quiet compared to the frenzied activity around the Olympic Park itself.

"We were in Stratford for the evening yesterday and it was terrible compared with central London, where it is quite cool, it is less crowded," said Lea, 19, one of the students.

Source: AFP/ck/5August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Nominations open for UNWTO Ulysses and Lifetime Achievement Awards

Nominations open for UNWTO Ulysses and Lifetime Achievement Awards

PR No.:PR12048,Madrid,02 Aug 12

Nominations are open for the 2012 UNWTO Awards, recognizing exceptional leaders in the tourism community, as well as the most innovative tourism initiatives.

Since 2003, the UNWTO Ulysses Prize and Awards have honored those individuals and tourism initiatives that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of tourism through knowledge creation and innovation, in line with the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In addition to the Ulysses Prize and Awards, this year a new award category has been announced; the UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated excellence throughout their career in tourism and who serve as inspirational role models.

UNWTO confers awards in the following categories:

For individuals:

- UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge
- UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement

For tourism initiatives:

- UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance
- UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises
- UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations
- UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology

Winners will be selected by an international jury of tourism experts and awarded during the prestigious UNWTO Awards Ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey (15 November 2012). Following the Ceremony, winners will be invited to deliver a lecture and present their projects to tourism business leaders and public officials meeting at the UNWTO Knowledge Network Symposium (16 November 2012).

Nominations will be accepted until 21 September 2012.

Source: UNWTO/2August2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: China, Malaysia Cross One-Million Arrivals Mark in First Half of 2012

China, Malaysia Cross One-Million Arrivals Mark in First Half of 2012

Bangkok, July 16, 2012 - The Thai tourism industry continued its strong performance in the first six months of 2012, with total arrivals of 10,496,789, up 7.60% over the same period of 2011.

The most important contributor to this growth was arrivals from China which, for the first time, crossed the one million arrivals mark in the six-month period to record a total of 1,124,234, up by a robust 28.87% over January-June 2011.

Here is the listing of the Top Ten Source Markets of Visitors to Thailand in the first half of 2012:



Below is a summary of the overall figures for the period of January – June 2012, with the percentage change over the same period of 2011, tabulated on arrivals by nationality at all points of entry into Thailand:

Overview:
East Asia recorded 5,486,941 arrivals (market share 52.27% of total arrivals). Europe 2,971,939 (market share 28.31%); The Americas 545,042 (5.19% share); South Asia 632,976 (6.03% share); Oceania 477,894 (4.55% share); Middle East 296,653 (2.83% share); and Africa 85,344 (0.81% share).
East Asia (+5.73%):
• Japan is the fourth largest source of visitor arrivals to Thailand with total of 630,058, up 11.47%.
• Korea is the fifth largest source of visitor arrivals with total of 540,523, up 4.88%.
• Arrivals from the neighbouring ASEAN countries also showed good growth, e.g., Vietnam (+24.96%), Brunei Darussalam (+20.15%), Cambodia (+12.32%), Myanmar (+12.30%), Laos (+9.16%), Indonesia (+4.40%), Singapore (+4.53%). Only the Philippines was down (-3.44%).
Europe (+11.12%):
• Russia remained ahead of the UK and Germany as the largest source market from Europe, with total arrivals of 634,312, up 12.21%.
• The UK and Germany ranked the second and third largest sources of visitor arrivals – 433,989 (+1.52%) and 357,472 (+9.71%), respectively.
• French visitor arrivals totalled 304,717 (+17.11%).
• Arrivals from the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark grew by 17.59%, 16.45% and 14.84%, respectively.
The Americas (+10.58%):
• The US is the tenth top source-market of arrivals to Thailand with a total of 379,430 (+8.63%).
• Canadian visitors grew by 10.62% to 114,678.
• Brazilian visitors grew by 23.65% to 14,965.

South Asia (+5.83%):
• India is the biggest source of visitors in South Asia and the sixth largest source of total arrivals. Arrivals were up 6.32% to 504,634 arrivals.
• Pakistani visitor arrivals totalled 34,809 (-2.65%).
• Bangladeshi visitor arrivals totalled 33,494 (-0.20%).
• Visitors from Sri Lanka grew by 20.85% to 32,878.

Oceania (+9.45%):
• Arrivals from Australia and New Zealand were up 9.63% to 427,096 and 8.15% to 49,365, respectively.

Middle East (-0.15%):
• The UAE experienced a decline of -0.76%.
• Visitors from other Middle East markets (such as Iran) were down 7.08%.
• However, other Middle East source markets were up, especially Saudi Arabia (50.51%) and Kuwait (19.97%). Arrivals from Egypt were up by 22.49%.

Africa (+28.88%):
• The most important source market of South Africa was up 13.99% to 35,319.
• Other countries are also showing considerable promise with a total growth of 41.97% to 50,025.

For 2012, TAT has set a target of 20.5 million total international visitors. This is a conservative estimate but is certain to be exceeded if the international economic and geopolitical situation remains stable.

Source: TATNews/16July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Thailand Tourism Receipts Up 30%, Highlighting Value for Money Factor

Thailand Tourism Receipts Up 30%, Highlighting Value for Money Factor

Bangkok, July 16, 2012 -- Thailand recorded a 31% increase in tourism receipts in 2011 over 2010, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports figures. The total earnings of 776 billion baht (US$25.45 billion) were also well above the original target of 716 billion baht (US$ 23 billion).

The figures show that Thailand recorded clear increases in both quality and quantity of visitor arrivals. The growth in total number of visitors is being matched by increased average length of stay and average daily expenditures, further underscoring the role of tourism as one of the most important economic sectors and contributor to job creation in Thailand as well as nationwide income distribution.

According to the Ministry, Thailand recorded 19.23 million international visitors in 2011, up by 20.67% over 2010. With an average length of stay of 9.64 days and an average daily spend of 4,187.12 baht (US$137) per person, the Thai tourism industry generated 776 billion baht in earnings.

By regions, East Asia recorded the largest increase in receipts in 2011 at +39.40%, followed by South Asia (+33.27%), Oceania (+32.84%), Africa (+32.21%), Europe (+26.20%), the Americas (+20.36%) and the Middle East (+19.79%).

Europe holds the largest share of international tourism receipts in absolute numbers (a 38.23% share), reaching US$ 9,733 million in 2011, followed by East Asia (37.33% share or US$ 9,505 million), the Americas (7.10% share or US$ 1,807 million), Oceania (7.30% share or US$ 1,858 million), and South Asia (4.85% share or US$ 1,235 million). The Middle East (4.29% share) accounted for US$ 1,093 million and Africa (0.88% share) was worth US$ 224 million.

According to per-capita daily spending, the top 10 countries for tourism spenders in 2011 were UAE (US$175.21), Saudi Arabia (US$166.92), South Africa (US$164.10), India (US$161.78), Hong Kong (US$161.63), Singapore (US$160.96), Kuwait (US$159.66), Australia (US$159.19), Brunei Darussalam (US$155.30) and Korea (US$153.17).

Among Asian visitors, the lowest daily spend was by Laotians (US$101.99) and among Europeans, the lowest daily spend was by Germans (US$115.46).

In terms of total expenditure by all visitors, the top five nations were Russia, China, Australia, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Here is a brief snapshot summary of each:

Russia: Thanks to an increasing number of charter flights, Russia is now the top generator of arrivals from Europe, up 63.45% to 1,052,361 in 2011. Russian tourists spent a total of US$1,970.84 million (60 billion baht) in 2011, based on an average length of stay of 13.29 days and an average daily spend of US$140.92 per person.

China: In 2011, China was the second-largest source of visitors after Malaysia, with total arrivals of 1,704,800, up 50.57% over 2010. Based on an average daily spend per person of US$146.63, and average length of stay of 7.61 days, Chinese visitors generated tourism revenue of US$1,902.32 million (58 billion baht).

Australia: In 2011, Australian visitors to Thailand totalled 835,719, up 18.89% over 2010. Based on an average length of stay of 12.78 days and an average daily spend of US$159.19 per person, Australians generated US$1,700.27 million (51.8 billion baht) of tourism income.

Malaysia: Malaysia is Thailand’s largest source of visitor arrivals with a total of 2,492,034 in 2011, up 21.73% over 2010. Based on an average length of stay of 4.78 days and an average daily spend of US$137.10 per person, Malaysia generated US$1,633.15 million (49.79 billion baht) in tourism receipts.

United Kingdom: The United Kingdom was the second-largest source of arrivals from Europe with a total of 771,466 visitors in 2011, up 1.48% over 2010. Based on an average daily spend of US$121.84 per person and an average length of stay of 17.35 days, the UK generated US$1,630.80 million (49.72 billion baht) in tourism receipts.

Overall, the figures show that the recent strengthening of the baht against the US$ is having little impact on expenditure patterns and Thailand remains good value for money for visitors across the board.

Source: TATNews/16July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Olympics Tourism Boost Sails Into Weymouth

Olympics Tourism Boost Sails Into Weymouth

At 120 miles from London, the Sailing host town Weymouth is one of the furthest Olympic venues from the capital.

The sleepy seaside resort in Dorset was chosen for the event in 2005 - because of its internationally acclaimed sailing waters.

The town was promised that the event would boost the local economy, support tourism and put Weymouth on the international stage.

Sky News has spoken to the family-run Channel Hotel on the Seafront, which has been booked up since Christmas.

Owner Chris Reay said he chose not to raise prices at the hotel to capitalise on the Olympics.

"Some of them (local hotels) do show dramatic increases in price. That's something that we decided not to do because we were looking at the long-term picture of wanting to bring people back in the future."

Other businesses, however, are concerned that the event is driving the ordinary tourism trade away.

Tracy Welch, who works at a local ice cream shop, said: "It hasn't been particularly brilliant. A lot of the road closures have put a lot of people off coming in, and it all seems to be down by the Pavilion rather than up this end (of town)."

The event though will give the area international exposure and the new sailing facilities are world class.

Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation, with a squad of 16 sailors including triple gold medallist Ben Ainslie.

Local people hope the Olympic sparkle remains once the competitors have sailed away from the Dorset coast.

Source: SkyNews/29July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Thailand launches major domestic tourism drive

Thailand launches major domestic tourism drive

Thailand has kicked off a major new domestic tourism campaign, encouraging Thais to make travel a ‘Part of Life’.

Initiated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the new campaign is planning to drive 107.4 million domestic trips with revenue earnings of THB453 billion (US$14.3bn) in 2013. According to the TAT, the campaigns, which will run for the rest of 2012 and into 2013, will aim to promote tourism as a “necessity” for Thai nationals and residents, as opposed to being “just a luxury or a recreational activity”

The tourism board added that the campaigns will also strive to reinforce a strong sense of national identity among Thais, especially young travellers, as well as opening up new destinations in an effort to decongest more traditional and popular holiday spots.

“Domestic tourism has become an increasingly important component of the overall tourism mix. The growing Thai middle-class has the time, means, and the propensity to travel. It plays an important role socially, economically, environmentally and culturally,” the TAT said in a statement. “Its importance has become particularly acute especially in times of crisis, when international travel tends to be affected, enhancing the role of domestic travel as a means of economic survival,” it added.

The new campaign will be underpinned by the slogan; ‘New Thinking, New Perspectives – Travel in Thailand Can Yield More Than You Think’, and will hope to take advantage of the improvements in Thai road, rail and air infrastructure.

Source: Traveldailymedia/17July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Tourism ban will not help the Big Cat

Tourism ban will not help the Big Cat

The Supreme Court’s decision banning tourism in core areas of tiger habitats overlooks several critical considerations. It will harm, rather then help, the cause of tiger conservation.

For a start, it gives way too much power to the forest department. The ban will mean only one agency will both implement the tiger protection agenda, and audit that process.

The various forest and environment officials at the Centre and at the State level have a terrible record of tiger protection. They had held up the absurd number of 5,000 wild tigers in India till recently when it was already clear to every one (including the much maligned lodge owners) that there are only about 1,500 tigers left in India.

Tellingly, the two parks from where the tiger completely disappeared due to poaching were Panna and Sariska and both were not in the top ten most visited by tourists. In contrast, parks with the highest tiger density, such as Ranthambhore and Corbett, are amongst the most visited In India.

In both Panna and Sariska, the forest officers went to great lengths to deny that the parks were without a single big cat. The unscientific relocation in Sariska has been a double disaster. These are the very people who will run tiger parks across India, if the new order is implemented in its current form.
Tourism isn’t the villain

Tourism allows for ample outside scrutiny of the forest and thus aids tiger preservation. Tourism brings in its wake assessment by lodge owners, guides, photographers and other stake-holders whose survival depends on robust tiger numbers.

Breeding of tigers has been observed with regularity by experts even when the tourism season is in full swing. What is more, no tiger deaths due to tourism have been reported. Forest officer vehicles have, however, caused at least three tiger deaths in national parks of Madhya Pradesh in the recent past.

Poaching for skin and bones and poisoning by nearby villagers remain the two main causes of tiger deaths in India. Incidentally a majority of the poaching incidents, including the latest one in Corbett last fortnight, have happened during the monsoon, when Parks are closed to the tourists.

The Minister of Environment and Forests has proposed dismantling of tourism infrastructure in and near parks within a five-year framework.

Instead, this is the time for the tourism industry as well as the MoEF to draw up a regulatory framework. And hotels that violate norms need to go.
Price it for rarity

At the same time, India needs to understand that the tiger is the rarest of the rare, and access to it should be priced accordingly. The African model offers some lessons. A one-week visit to the Masai Mara, Kenya, during the great migrations costs $3,000 while a week in Ranthambhore or Corbett costs a measly $400 - and the Masai Mara is far cheaper than reserves in places such as Okavango in Botswana.

Raising access fee to national park core area will not only regulate tourist numbers but also provide for far greater revenues for the upkeep of parks and sharing with the local population. This is the one measure that will achieve the desired ends and is also easy to implement on the ground.

To deny future generations that heart-stopping moment - when one sights a tiger in the wild - is no solution. The State’s job is to facilitate this majestic experience through a regulatory approach.

Each park in India has unique issues and will need different solutions. A thought-out policy framework - not an “off with the tourist's head” diktat - is the way forward.

Source: TheHinduBusinessLine/26July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Singapore’s luxury liver transplants draw Cambodians

Singapore’s luxury liver transplants draw Cambodians

With paintings on every wall, a hotel-fresh scent, and a full-service restaurant on the ground floor, Gleneagles often feels more like a five-star hotel than a hospital.

The Singaporean medical centre, owned by private health care company Parkway Pantay Ltd, has become a prime overseas destination for some of Cambodia’s wealthiest citizens seeking treatment.

In addition to Gleneagles, Parkway runs three other hospitals Singapore – Mount Elizabeth, Parkway East, and Mount Elizabeth Novena – and operations throughout Asia including Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

The company’s Patient Assistance Centres are central in bringing patients from countries where high-quality healthcare is difficult to access or nonexistent. Cambodia is among these.

“Our Cambodian patients are mostly sent to two hospitals – Mount Elizabeth and Gleneagles,” says Phoung Nimol, the marketing executive at Parkway’s Patient Assistance Centre in Phnom Penh, which has operated for four years. According to Phoung Nimol, gastrointestinal and liver diseases are the primary reasons Cambodians seek treatment in Singapore.

“Mount Elizabeth treats a lot of heart, lung, stomach or gastrointestinal diseases. But Gleneagles specialises more in liver cirrhosis, especially liver transplants,” he said.

Liver cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease usually resulting from long-term alcohol abuse or untreated hepatitis B and C infections. In its most severe stage, the entire affected liver must be removed through a complicated and expensive procedure that is not currently available in Cambodia....Read more...

Source: Phnompenhpost/25July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Over 1,500 tourists evacuated as fires rage in Croatia

Over 1,500 tourists evacuated as fires rage in Croatia

ZAGREB: A firefighter died and 1,500 tourists were evacuated after forest fires fanned by strong winds broke out on Croatia's Adriatic coast Monday, with the interior minister warning of a "very difficult" scenario.

"The situation is very difficult ... we are doing everything possible to protect people's lives and property," Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic told commercial Nova television, as the fires continued to blaze out of control in the increasingly popular tourist area.

"Everything is ready for (further) evacuations," said the minister, who visited the coastal resort of Selce, close to the northern port of Rijeka, where some 150 firefighters were battling the blaze.

A 45-year firefighter died while battling another blaze that broke out near Moscenicka Draga on the Istria peninsula, fire service official Slavko Gaus told national HRT television.

That fire was brought under control later in the day.

The inferno broke out in the morning in the hinterland of Rijeka, some 180 kilometres (110 miles) southwest of Zagreb, and spread towards Selce.

Strong winds of more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) an hour made tackling the fires very difficult as water-bombing planes could not be used, the authorities said.

In Selce some 1,500 tourists from two campsites, mostly Slovenians and Austrians, were evacuated while a number of other tourists left a nearby hotel, officials said.

Part of the Adriatic coastal highway was closed, police said.

The resort was cut off from electricity and phone lines were down, Nova television reported, showing footage of people in Selce covering their faces with scarves to protect themselves from the thick smoke and ashes.

The roofs of several houses also caught fire.

In fellow former Yugoslav republic Macedonia, 14 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a forest fire at Strumica, 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Skopje, the country's farm minister said.

The minister, Lupco Dimovski, said there was information suggesting that this fire may heave been started deliberately

The Macedonia fire was still raging late Monday.

-AFP/ac:24July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Tibet sees over 1,000 foreign tourists daily

Tibet sees over 1,000 foreign tourists daily

LHASA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Tourism numbers have been increasing for southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, with more than 1,000 tourists visiting the region every day, the Tibet Tourism Bureau said Monday.

The bureau said 1,588 foreign tourists from 40 countries, including the United States, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan and Nepal, visited Tibet on Sunday.

The number of tourists from the United States on that day reached 330, the largest group among those from the above-mentioned countries. And the following three tourist groups are Germans, Malaysians and Singaporeans, according to the tourism bureau.

Andrzej Brozek, a Polish man traveling with a group of tourists, said he visited the Potala Palace on Sunday, adding that he and his group will stay in Tibet for four more days.

Brozek said his group also visited the Jokhang Temple, a key Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the heart of Lhasa, as well as Barkhor Street, one of the city's oldest streets.

A tour guide surnamed Yang said his company is getting busier every day. Sunday saw Yang guiding a group of Japanese tourists around the city.

Art stores on Barkhor Street said an increasing number of foreign tourists have visited their stores in recent days to buy artwork..

The bureau said Tibet received 1.45 million tourists in the first five months of the year, showing an increase of 25.7 percent year on year.

Of the total number of tourists, 1.42 million were domestic tourists, the regional tourism bureau said in a statement.

The plateau region earned 1.36 billion yuan (215.87 million U.S. dollars) in domestic tourism revenues during the five-month period, the bureau said.

The bureau said Tibet expects 10 million tourist arrivals and 12 billion yuan in tourism revenues this year.

According to the tourism bureau, nearly 8.427 million domestic tourists and 270,800 foreign tourists visited Tibet in 2011.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Tibet regional government agreed at a June 7 meeting to encourage air travel companies to establish more routes linking the regional capital of Lhasa with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as several southeast and west Asian countries.

Li Jun, deputy director of the CAAC, said applications for new air routes linking Tibet with other countries will be encouraged in order to boost the growth of Tibet's air passenger volume.

Li said there are currently 32 routes run by six airlines linking Tibet with the outside world. The only international destination among the routes is the city of Katmandu in Nepal.

Li Haiying, general manager of Sichuan Airlines, said the company hopes to open new flights linking Lhasa with Nepal, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the future.

Tibet was once regarded as a difficult area to fly in because of its complicated geographic conditions and unpredictable weather.

However, air transportation in Tibet has retained double-digit growth over the past five years.

Tibet's government chief Padma Choling said that Tibet is striving to build itself into an international tourist destination, with a goal of drawing 15 million visitors annually by 2015.

Source: Xinhua/2012-06-11

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Spain to host World Tourism Day 2012 under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Energy

Spain to host World Tourism Day 2012 under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Energy

PR No.:PR12015,Madrid,08 Mar 12

The 2012 official World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrations will be held in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain (27 September 2012). Under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development”, WTD 2012 highlights the need to bring the tourism sector and energy stakeholders closer together to spur tourism’s contribution to sustainability.

“Tourism is at the forefront of many of the latest and most innovative sustainable energy initiatives,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “One only has to think of the investments being poured into renewable energy sources for aviation, or the energy technology solutions implemented in hotels around the world, to know that sustainable energy is a major priority for the sector.”

“The message at the heart of World Tourism Day 2012 is that these initiatives and commitments are not only helping to protect the environment, they are also creating economic opportunities and jobs for millions, whether in tourism, energy or other sectors,” he said.

Official celebrations will take place in the town of Maspalomas in the Canary Islands, Spain, as was announced during the UNWTO Press Conference at the ITB Travel Trade Show with the presence of the Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego.

“Spain is among the top five countries investing in renewable energies worldwide and 20% of the energy consumed in Spain comes from renewable sources,” said Ms. Borrego. “We are convinced that the celebrations of World Tourism Day 2012 will be of great interest given the high caliber of participants, as well as the other events being organized to raise awareness of World Tourism Day among the general public.”

Holding this year’s celebrations in Spain is particularly fitting given its reputation as “one of the world's top tourism destinations and a global leader in renewable energies,” said the Secretary-General. As well as being a major tourism destination, one third of the island of Gran Canaria, including the town of Maspalomas, where the celebrations will take place, is a Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Official WTD celebrations will include a High-Level Think Tank on the 2012 theme, at which public and private tourism stakeholders will join leaders from the energy sector to further the use of sustainable energy in the tourism sector. Confirmed participants include the Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, and the President of Acciona Energy, Carmen Becerril, of Spanish multinational Acciona.

WTD 2012 coincides with the UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, offering the opportunity to further highlight the shared responsibility of the tourism and energy sectors to the wider sustainability objectives of the UN.

About World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on 27 September. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.


Source: UNWTO/8Mar2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Human resource issues threaten tourism industry

Human resource issues threaten tourism industry

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released a report identifying three of the most important trends and policy challenges facing global tourism: effective governance practices evaluation of policies and programmes, and human resources development. All three are of direct relevance to Thailand and Asean.

The report says that major changes will need to be made in the three areas to boost tourism competitiveness and sustainability for each OECD country, and selected non-members.

In a foreword, Sergio Arzeni, director of OECD's Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development, notes that this third edition of OECD Tourism Trends and Policies has been produced for the first time in partnership with the European Commission.

The report notes that OECD member countries play a leading role in international tourism, representing 66% of global arrivals in 2010, while EU member countries accounted for 50.2%. Domestic tourism consumption represents a very significant share of the total tourism economy, averaging 61%, and above 80% for Chile, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

However, the report says emerging tourism destination countries are outperforming the OECD and global averages for GDP and employment. Countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and South Africa hold significant potential as sources of growth for traditional tourism destinations.

The three key points examined in the report conclude thus:

- The adoption of effective governance practices that reflect the changing business and policy environment can help to facilitate an integrated, whole-of-government approach to tourism, supporting stronger, greener and more inclusive tourism growth.

- Evaluation is the most appropriate means of demonstrating tourism's value to an economy and should play an integral role in the development and implementation of policy. Adhering to an evaluation road map can help countries to improve the evaluation process.

- In many countries, tourism jobs remain vacant due to a lack of appropriately skilled workers, and there is a need for governments to assume a greater leadership role in shaping the training and education agenda. A national tourism strategy, including a workforce development strategy, is necessary to fully address labour and skills shortages.

The third point is considered to be especially important.

The report "highlights the increasing gap between labour demand growth and labour supply, as well as significant changes in labour force composition, which is putting pressure on employers to improve tourism industry attractiveness and the retention of workers. Confronted with a looming labour and skills shortage, employers must develop strategies that will allow them to remain competitive with a smaller but better trained workforce.

"Numerous drivers, including an aging clientele, changing lifestyles and consumer demands, the increasing use of information and communication technologies, and globalisation, all contribute to growing pressure to upgrade skills levels, even among workers who are considered well trained. The general lack of a training culture and management skills among employers is a major hurdle that needs to be overcome."

One key challenge facing the OECD countries is the issue of migrant workers, which is also true in the case of Thailand and Asean.

Says the report, "The seasonal and cyclical nature of the tourism industry makes the option of migrant workers an attractive one for many employers, as they can expand and contract their workforce as demand fluctuates. However, while migrants can be a partial solution to the labour shortage, they often do not contribute to addressing the skills shortage.

The report also notes the increasing complexity of changes at the policy level.

It says: "Although national, regional and local governments are playing an increasing role in the delivery of tourism, a challenge is that in many countries this role has evolved in an ad-hoc manner and often with no clear definition of the overall role of tourism beyond its contribution to economic development."

Source: Bangkokpost:23/07/2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Euro crisis 'not hurting tourism'

Euro crisis 'not hurting tourism'

The ongoing debt crisis in Europe has had no effect on the country’s tourism-related industries so far, says Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa.

Speaking on the "Yingluck Government Meets the People" weekly talk show on NBT on Saturday, Mr Chumpol said the number of foreign tourists from 11 European countries continued to increase from last year. As well, he said, the ountry was seeing healthy growth in arrivals Korea, Japan and China.

The minister attributed the tourism expansion to the success of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in restoring confidence in the country by visiting several countries soon after taking office.

He forecast the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand would reach 20 million this year, with total revenue of about 800 billion baht. Last year the country attracted 19.2 million visitors and about 770 billion baht in tourism revenue.

Mr Chumpol said he believed the ministry’s target to increase revenue of the tourism sector to 2 trillion baht in 2015 would be achieved.

Source: Bangkokpost:14/07/2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Thai tourism 'at risk' from Myanmar travel boom

Thai tourism 'at risk' from Myanmar travel boom

Travel agents yesterday warned the government that Myanmar's rapidly growing tourism sector could put Thailand's position as a major regional gateway at risk.

The comments came as Myanmar's deputy tourism minister U Htay Aung told the Sasin Bangkok Forum yesterday that his country was ramping up its tourism infrastructure to cope with a sharp rise in the number of visitors.

He conceded that the Myanmar tourism industry was still in its infancy, but pointed to rapidly increasing visitor numbers.

Between January and June of this year, the number of foreigners flying in to Yangon and Mandalay airports was 50% higher than the same period in 2011, U Htay Aung said.

Market analysts believe Myanmar has strong potential to establish itself as a prime tourism destination in Southeast Asia following democratic reforms.

U Htay Aung said infrastructure development is key to achieving this goal.

He said his country has drawn up a tourism master plan which has received backing for its efforts from the Norwegian government.

Plans are afoot for a new international airport, 50km from Yangon, to be constructed over the next few years.

He said investors in hotel and tourism infrastructure are expected to flock to Myanmar in the near future.

With the rising number of tourists, businessmen and international visitors, Myanmar now has a severe shortage of hotel rooms, he said.

The lack of prior tourism infrastructure development in Myanmar was partially because of sanctions by Western countries, U Htay Aung said, while political and security issues were also obstacles.

Communicable diseases and natural disasters had also kept tourists to Myanmar at bay, he said.

Some foreign hotels and investors had left the country because of sanctions in the past, he said.

"With the commitment to progressive reforms by the government that came to power through a general election in 2011, including national reconciliation and restructuring of the economy, the tourism sector will be revived," he said.

The Shangri-La Group is constructing a 240-room hotel, while the Accor Group and India's Oberoi are also interested in investing in Myanmar, U Htay Aung said.

There are about 25,000 hotels and guesthouses across Myanmar.

U Htay Aung said foreigners are allowed a 100% investment in hotels and restaurants, but investors cannot obtain land ownership and businesses must operate on a 45-year land lease period.

He said new investment regulations were being considered. Myanmar President Thein Sein recently approved a five-year short-term development plan from fiscal year 2011 to 2015 that aims for average gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.7% and for a three-fold increase in per-capita GDP.

Charoen Wangananont, secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said the government must adopt a constructive strategy to enjoy mutual benefits from Myanmar's development.

He said inconsistent policies made Thailand vulnerable to losing tourists to other countries in the region.

Source: Bangkokpost/9/07/2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: China replaces Malaysia as top tourist source to Thailand

China replaces Malaysia as top tourist source to Thailand

BANGKOK, July 18 (Xinhua) -- China became the top source of tourists to Thailand as the number of Chinese tourists surged and exceeded that of Malaysians in the first half of 2012, Thai tourism authorities said Wednesday.

Some 1,124,234 Chinese tourists visited Thailand in the first six months, up 28.9 percent year on year. It was the first time the number exceeded 1 million for a six-month period, according to statistics released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

A total of 10.5 million tourists visited Thailand in the same period, up 7.6 percent year on year. Strong growth in the number of Chinese tourists was a major booster of Thai tourism, according to TAT.

China will stay as Thailand's top source of tourists if the trend continues. "All the markets are doing well, but growth of the China market is phenomenal," Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, head of TAT's International Relations told Xinhua.

China is a most important market for us, we are working with hotels, restaurants and tour agencies to constantly improve our service quality to attract more tourists. Not only more Chinese tourists are arriving, they are also spending more, Chattan said.

The rapid growth of the Chinese market means Chinese tourists like what Thailand can offer, including beaches, shopping and culture. Easy accessibility to Thailand also contributed to the growth, such as low-cost airlines between major Chinese cities and Thai tourist destinations of Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, Chattan said.

"Sky is the limit for the potential of the Chinese market for Thai tourism," he added.

Source: Xinhua/2012-07-18

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: China to create blacklist for tourism market regulation

China to create blacklist for tourism market regulation

SHENYANG, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Government authorities will create a blacklist of unscrupulous tourism companies and agencies in October as a part of efforts to regulate the tourism market and foster the creation of a credit system for the sector.

The blacklist, which will be published by the National Tourism Administration (NTA) and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, will expose tourism companies and agencies that have violated national laws and industry rules or cheated customers, NTA

Vice Director Du Jiang said Monday at a national conference.

Du said the companies and agencies that are exposed will also be punished.

The NTA has urged its local branches to enhance supervision and severely punish industry players that disrupt market order, according to Du.

Source: Xinhua/2012-07-09

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Restaurant association to start up in temple town

Restaurant association to start up in temple town

Siem Reap’s eateries are joining forces to form the Siem Reap Restaurant Association.

At a meeting of the Cambodian Restaurant Association in Siem Reap’s Casa Angkor Hotel last Monday, the board presented the idea of setting up a Siem Reap chapter.

Temple Town businesses were quick on the uptake, following the success of CRA in representing Phnom Penh-based F&B companies for the last two years. CRA now works on behalf of more than 50 companies, made up of over 100 outlets, from long-running favourites to smaller enterprises.

“We came to Siem Reap two years ago to attract businesses here,” explains Geert Vanbaelen, who is spearheading the establishment of the Siem Reap chapter, “But we were only new and the businesses here were afraid to join. Now they see the brands we’ve attracted, and they’re ready to get started.”

Geert says that the larger restaurant groups and hotel restaurants were the most enthusiastic, but he believes others will follow suit. The association will be assisted by the already-established Cambodia Hotel Association Siem Reap, which was represented at the meeting by its president, Emmett McHenry of Sokha Angkor Resort.

Geert, a former CRA treasurer who recently relocated to Siem Reap, says the establishment of the chapter will help businesses in a multitude of areas. “It’s a networking association, so it’s gets people together, it improves communication. It can represent restaurants with a common voice to the government, and will work to make food and beverage a leading industry in Cambodia.”

Vanbaelen also says the association works in communities, with schools and NGOs, educating and encouraging students to become interested in hospitality. The association has also lobbied the government to improve hygiene guidelines and to formalise inspections.

Another item on Monday’s agenda was the CamFood and CamHotel 2012 Exhibition which will take place in Phnom Penh in October. It will be held in Diamond Island Exhibition Center, and hopes to attract over 12,000 industry professionals.

CRA is now pushing for more representation from Siem Reap and Geert says, “Some restaurants and hotels came to the expo two years ago, but after our presentation in Siem Reap, a lot more were very motivated to get involved.”

CRA will encourage representation by providing transport for staff to the capital for the exhibition.

While also a showcase for products and businesses, the expo will be a showcase for staff too, with competitions in everything from bartending to bed-making, even a waiter race. Geert says, “I hope this year we will see some Siem Reap staff taking part. It will improve their skills and who knows maybe they’ll go on to work abroad?”

Source: Phnompenhpost/13July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Over 1.5 mln foreign tourists visit Cambodia in first 5 months

Over 1.5 mln foreign tourists visit Cambodia in first 5 months

PHNOM PENH, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has attracted over 1.5 million international visitors in the first five months of 2012, up 26 percent compared with the same period last year, the statistics released by the tourism ministry showed Monday.

About 941,450 foreign tourists, or 62.5 percent of the total, visited the world heritage site Angkor archeological park in Siem Reap province, which is located about 315 km northwest of the capital city Phnom Penh.

During the January-May period this year, Vietnam topped the chart among the top 10 arrivals with 305,750 tourists, up 30 percent, followed by South Korea with 204,150, up 35 percent, and Chinese visitors ranked a third place, with 132,000, up 33 percent.

Thai visitors to Cambodia had surged by 89 percent to 78,160 thanks to the improving relations between the two neighbors after tensions over border disputed areas have eased since last July.

The report said some 49 percent of the visitors arrived in Cambodia by air, 48 percent by land and the rest by water ways.

Tourism industry is one of the four major pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. Last year, 2.88 million foreign tourists visited the country, bringing in a total revenue of 1.91 billion U. S. dollars.

Source: Xinhua/2012-06-25

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...

Tourism Indochina: Dara Airport Hotel lands at Ratana Plaza

Dara Airport Hotel lands at Ratana Plaza

A new hotel serving the Phnom Penh International Airport opened on July 1 at Ratana Plaza on the left off Russian Boulevard just before Hanoi Road on the way to the airport from central Phnom Penh.

The Dara Airport Hotel has 155 rooms with a fifth-floor reception, swimming pool, bar and spa. A 60-room second addition to the hotel on an adjacent street, with 11 long-stay apartments, in a building along with a restaurant and a branch of Canadia Bank is scheduled to open in November. When the adjacent addition is opened, the hotel’s total room count will be 226.

General Manager Pierre Bernard, who formerly worked at the Cambodiana Hotel and the Independence Hotel in Sihanoukville, says one of the best features of the hotel is the fifth floor open area where guests can relax in the open air, adjacent to the lobby.

“The advantage is to be close to the airport,” Bernard said.

The hotel is part of the Ratana Plaza complex, which houses a Lucky supermarket, Lucky Burger, iOne computers and a number of other shops.

An opening promotion rate of $55 per night is being offered for single rooms, $60 for double. The rates will later increase to $80 plus, and $90 for a deluxe room. The suites, with living rooms, couches and big screen televisions, start from about $200.

The hotel’s restaurant is called Blue Sky and has Western, Khmer and Chinese menus. The Attitude Lounge is located adjacent to the fifth floor rotunda and reception area.

Bernard said the hotel would focus on corporate clients.

“We already have guests, a majority of them are corporate from the government and factory sector,” Bernard said. “We are close to the golf course and the Cambodia Country Club,” he said.

Fitness and pool membership is being offered in an early bird special for $64.50 per month.

Source: Phnompenhpost/17July2012

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/
More about Cambodia Rice Exporter, please visit: http://www.cambodiaorganic.com/

Read more...