Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

(Tourism Indochina: Date : 2012-01-26): The Cambodia Minister of Tourism attended the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting under the theme of “Tourism For A Global Community of Nations”. In the Meeting, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers express a high appreciation to the continued progress in implementing the Tourism Strategic Plan 2011 -2015 and also the commitment to foster the implementation the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan so as to hit the defined target and strengthening of the tourism product quality via standardizing and human resources capacity building.

Throughout the meeting agenda of ASEAN Tourism Forum, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, Home Stay and Spa and rewarded 10 ASEAN Green Hotels Standard in the Kingdom of Cambodia including 7 in Siem Riep, one in Phnom Penh, one in Battambang and another one in Preah Sihanouk province. In addition, with the same shared goal, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have supported ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, aiming to promote and develop ASEAN to be a competitive destination.

The Marketing Strategy mainly focuses on Indian and Chinese and Intra- ASEAN Travelers and remarkably ASEAN inbound tourist is approximately 79 million with an increase of 7.4 %. Tourists from Korean, Japan and china are about 12 million, 2.4 million from India, and 34 million from Intra- ASEAN travelers. ASEAN expect to register approximately 107 million in 2015.

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Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Hong Kong Breaks Tourists Record in 2011

Tourism Indochina: Hong Kong Breaks Tourists Record in 2011

HONG KONG: Tourist arrivals hit a record high in Hong Kong in 2011 with nearly 42 million visitors, boosted by a huge increase of people from mainland China, tourism officials said.

The number of holiday makers to the city increased 16.4 percent from 2010 to 41.92 million, with about two-thirds coming from mainland China, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in a statement late Thursday.

Mainland tourist figures jumped 23.9 percent year-on-year, helping to offset a decline of 2.4 percent from Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

"Looking into 2012, notwithstanding uncertainty in the global economic environment, the HKTB will continue to invest in promotions in different key source markets," board chairman James Tien said.

"We project there will be single-digit growth in visitor arrivals in 2012."

Tourism accounts for about 3.4 percent of Hong Kong's economy.

The former British colony, which was returned to China in 1997 but maintains a semi-autonomous status, is a shopping haven for many of mainland China's newly-minted who pack the city's numerous luxury goods stores.

However, there have been complaints by some tourists that they are strong-armed to go shopping by tour guides who often earn commission from local shops based on how much is spent.

Source: AFP/al

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Tourism Indochina: Advancing Cruise Tourism in ASEAN

Tourism Indochina: Advancing Cruise Tourism in ASEAN

SINGAPORE: ASEAN's Tourism Ministers have agreed on closer collaboration to advance cruise tourism in the region at their recent meeting in Manado, Indonesia.

To this end, ASEAN will look at a series of workshops, co-organised with the industry, to share best practices and strengthen collaboration in port infrastructure development, development of regional itineraries and joint marketing.

Details were released by Singapore's Trade and Industry Ministry.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, S Iswaran, who attended the meeting, said: "This is a positive development for ASEAN tourism as we work towards a strong regional cruise tourism industry.

"Singapore will work closely with the member states and the industry to organise these workshops in the coming months. Collectively, we can bring out the region's strong diversity and promote greater tourism flows within ASEAN."

The meeting noted that a key enabler in advancing cruise tourism in ASEAN is to develop adequate port infrastructure to accommodate more cruise ships.

ASEAN countries can also work together to develop regional cruise itineraries and share experience in enhancing shore-side attractions and amenities at the various destinations.

The Ministry added that the opening of Singapore's International Cruise Terminal (ICT) this year will support ASEAN's goal to be an exciting cruise region.

The terminal will double berth capacity and allow Singapore to cater to the world's largest ships.

Speaking in support of ASEAN's direction, Mr Michael Bayley, executive vice president of International of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, said: "The ASEAN region enjoys many innate favourable factors for cruise development such as the huge population base and growing affluence that will drive demand for travel.

"Together with the more active developments in the cruise infrastructure here recently, ASEAN's cruise industry is now poised to grow beyond its infancy stage and in the long run, to make the region the next exotic cruise paradise of the East."

Source: CNA/cc

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Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Voluntourism on the Rise

Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Voluntourism on the Rise

ANHUI: Soaking in the sights and sounds of rural China or visiting the homes of families affected by HIV and AIDS to better understand their needs may not be most people's idea of a vacation.

But an increasing number of people, foreigners as well as Chinese, are choosing this alternative form of travel called 'Voluntourism'.

'Voluntourism' or combining volunteer work with tourism is becoming an increasingly popular way of seeing the world.

In China, more people from major cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong are choosing to travel with a purpose.

Charity organization Chi Heng Foundation has organized 10 such trips since last year to visit AIDS affected families in rural China.

A day out at the park may not seem like the most interesting activity on a tour itinerary, but for these AIDS affected children, it is good fun and a way to forget their problems for a while.

Thomas Ho and his wife, who are from Hong Kong, brought their three sons, with the youngest at seven years old, along with them for a 'Voluntourism' trip.

Mr Ho said: "What's the point of bringing children to great cities, five-star hotels, what do they learn? But coming to a trip like this, the children will see a contrast of what they have and the life of people who don't have what they have."

Chi Heng Foundation's founder Chung To said: "Many of the children do not have HIV themselves but in a village setting where people sometimes are superstitious and relatively uneducated, some villages believe that these children brought the bad luck to the family, causing the parents to die. The children have been the scapegoat in some cases and even the relatives are not treating them well."

Many of the visitors were inspired by the children's resilience.

Fourteen-year-old Kevin Ho said: "They are not different in any way. It's just that their background is different but when we meet them, they are all like normal kids."

Another participant Tejinder Rajput said: "In a place that has lots of poverty, they are so positive and vibrant. They are smiling and it makes you wonder whether we have got it wrong. Living in the city with the stresses of working nine to five, these people are just free-spirited individuals."

A three day two night weekend trip to Anhui costs about US$500.

It covers accommodation, meals, as well as gifts for the children.

Source: CNA/fa


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Tourism Indochina: Minister of Tourism attended the ASEAN Ministers Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum

Tourism Indochina: Minister of Tourism attended the ASEAN Ministers Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum

Indonesia- On January 10-15, 2012, Cambodian delegations, led by H.E Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom, attended the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting, the 13th ASEAN Ministers Meeting plus China, Japan and Korea, and the 3rd ASEAN-India Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum under the theme of “Tourism For A Global Community of Nations”, held in Manado, Indonesia.

In the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have highly appreciated the continued progress in implementing the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015 which was endorsed during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Moreover, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have jointly committed to further foster implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan in order to accomplish the defined targets, namely strengthening of tourism product quality through standardizing the quality of various tourism products; endeavors in human resource capacity building in tourism sector via the stringent implementation of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and last but not least, the joint promotion of ASEAN tourist destination.

In keeping with this spirit, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, ASEAN Home Stay Standard, and ASEAN Spar Standard, and at the meantime, approved and supported the initiatives of Cambodia in preparing the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard based on the Cambodian Clean Tourist City Standard. during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have conferred upon the Green Hotel Reward to the 10 Hotels in Cambodia, in which seven hotels located in Siem Reap province, one hotel in Phnom Penh, one in Preah Sihanouk province, and another one in Battambang province in addition to the existing 20 ASEAN Green Hotels in the country.

Concurrently, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, aiming at developing ASEAN to be the competitive tourist destination, mainly targeting the Chinese and Indian source markets as well as the Intra-ASEAN Travelers (ASEAN for ASEAN).

It is remarkable to note that in 2011, ASEAN registered international tourists of approximately 79 million with an increase of 7.4% (in which tourists from China, Japan, Korea recorded 12 million, 2.4 million from India, and 34 million of Intra-ASEAN Travelers, and ASEAN will receive approximately 107 million in 2015.

Furthermore, the 11th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting plus China, Japan and Korea have conducted in accordance with the agendas of cooperation of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea). The meeting has shared opinions and best practices and highly appreciates the strong tourism cooperation in the framework of ASEAN+3, thereby requesting to further encourage youth travelers, joint-promotion of ASEAN+3, connectivity of ASEAN+3, healthy and security cooperation by preparing the Memorandum of Cooperation-MOC on ASEAN Plus Three (ATP) Tourism Cooperation which is agreed to be signed in 2012 as well as further intensify the implementation of ASEAN Plus Three Work Plan 2007-2017. the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have highly appreciated the ASEAN-Japan Center and ASEAN-Korea Center for best endeavors in technically supporting ASEAN tourism development, and strongly welcome remarks by H.E Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showcasing the progressive development of cooperation between ASEAN and UNWTO.

In particular, the 3rd ASEAN Ministers Meeting + India has mutually recognized the importance of tourism development between ASEAN and India, and agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding ASEAN-India on Tourism Cooperation. Whereby, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have welcomed the establishment of ASEAN Promotion Chapter Mombai and ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012.

Overall, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have supported and committed to urge up ASEAN connectivity by further encourage visa exemption between ASEAN member states and welcome the implementation of Common Visa (by introducing the formation of Minus X as experienced in ACMECS framework, Single Visa between Cambodia and Thailand), as well as further strengthen close cooperation in ASEAN Transportation service, particularly air connectivity by mean of the Full Liberation of Passenger Air Services by 2015. It is remarkable to note that the Opening of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012 was highly presided over by H.E Boediono, the Vice-President of Indonesia with honorary participation of H.E Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of UNWTO and Tourism Ministers of ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea and India.

The next ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 will be hosted in Vientiane, Laos from 18-21 January 2013. Source: MOT

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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Tour By Sea Route is Popular

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Tour By Sea Route is Popular

(Tourism Indochina:Date: 2007-10-28): An agreement to this effect was reached by the tourism authorities and relevant agencies of localities from the three countries at a meeting in the Phu Quoc island district, Kien Giang province, from October 24-25. There will be two trips a week along this line by a high-speed ship, capable of carrying 300 people. Visitors will depart from Vietnam ’s Ha Tien township, travel to Cambodia ’s Shihanouk Ville port city and finally arrive in an eco-tourism site in Thailand ’s Chanthaburi province. Kien Giang province, the Vietnamese partner in the project, is mobilising capital to upgrade its infrastructure and entertainment facilities in Ha Tien and Phu Quoc.

Phú Quốc is the largest island in Vietnam. The island is part of Kiên Giang Province, has a total area of 574 square kilometres (222 sq mi) and a permanent population of approximately 85,000. The district of Phú Quốc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets. The district seat, Dương Đông, is located on the west coast, and is also the largest town on the island. The economy is centered around fishing, agriculture and a fast-growing tourism sector; Phú Quốc being one of the most popular tourist destinations of Vietnam. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phú Quốc island lies just off the Cambodian coast, 62 nautical miles (115 km; 71 mi) from Rạch Giá, 8.1 nautical miles (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) from Kampot province of Cambodia, and nearly 290 nautical miles (540 km; 330 mi) from Laem Chabang, Thailand. Roughly triangular in shape the island is 50 kilometres (31 mi) long north to south and 25 kilometres (16 mi) east to west in the north at its widest. A mountainous ridge known as "99 Peaks" runs the length of Phú Quốc, with Chúa Mountain being the tallest at 603 metres (1,978 ft). The island's monsoonal sub-equatorial climate is characterized by distinct rainy (June to November) and dry seasons (December to May). The annual rainfall is high, averaging 2,879 millimetres (9.446 ft). In the northern mountains up to 4,000 millimetres (13 ft) has been recorded. April and May are the hottest months, with temperature reaching 35 °C (95 °F).

Ha Tien is a seaside town in Kien Giang Province in Southern Vietnam. It is at the western end of the Mekong Delta close to the Cambodian border. Although a tourist spot it hasn't yet seen many western visitors due to its remoteness. As a result the English literacy of even the hotel staff is next to nothing. However, the opening of the border to Cambodia for international travelers recently is likely to change that in the near future. The bus terminal is west of the city center (it was moved there from To Chau on the other side of the bay around January 2008). There are buses from Ho Chi Minh City's Mien Tay terminal (about 8h) as well as from Can Tho and Chau Doc. The connection from Can Tho often requires a change in Rach Soi or Rach Gia from where it is about 1h. The border near Ha Tien (7km to the north) was opened for tourists in 2007. NEW!! NO VISA NEEDED; As of late 2010,it is possible for tourists of most nationalities to enter Vietnam via this border crossing without the need for a visa.It applies only for stays of up to 15 days,and you can only visit the so called "Special Economic Zone",which is essentially the town of Ha Tien,and the area between the town and the border,including Mui Nai beach.You must not travel further into Vietnam (There is some dispute over whether you can travel to Phu Quoc island having entered with this visa free entry). From Kampot you can get a motobike taxi for $9-10 or from Kep for $7 to the border on the Cambodian side. The road can vary in condition from paved and bumpy to packed dirt and bumpy, be prepared for a slightly white knuckled ride depending on the daring nature of your driver. Also, be aware that there seem to be Vietnamese drivers now waiting well inside the Cambodian side waiting to pickup (poach) prospective travelers to take them across the border into town. Your driver may stop here to talk with them and seem to suggest you go with them. A ride to town should be $3-4 or less (it is only 7 km and the road is well paved on the Vietnamese side.) If you can't agree on a price there you can simply have your Cambodian driver take you to the border where you can cross over and have the drivers on the other side fight over you.

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Siem Reap Named One of the World’s Best Cities

Siem Reap Named One of the World’s Best Cities

Siem Reap was singled out as “one of the world’s best cities” in the latest annual reader survey published by renowned Travel + Leisure magazine. Citing the city’s evolution from “a cluster of riverfront villages in northwestern Cambodia into a full-fledged destination,” the magazine praised Siem Reap for its magnificent temple sites and myriad recreational and cultural attractions.

Siem Reap scored an 87.9 on a possible scale of 100 in Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Cities Awards,” which ranked it the 2nd best Asian city, and the 7th best city in the world. In the write-up in their August 2011 issue, the widely circulated travel magazine highlighted must-see stops in town including Angkor Archaeological Park, boutique handicraft store Artisans d’Angkor, the McDermott Gallery (currently showcasing modern white and black Angkor Wat photography), and Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort.

Travel + Leisure is a monthly travel magazine with over 4.8 million readers. This year marks the 16th annual “World’s Best Awards” —a yearly survey ranking readers’ favorite cities, hotels, cruises, and spas. Cities were ranked based on their sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping and value.

In a press release announcing the winners, Travel + Leisure editor-in-chief Nancy Novogrod said, “exotic destinations—places that convey a sense of authenticity and adventure—are ruling the day once again.” Source: MOT

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The Hotel Angkor Palace Resort & Spa Became as the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort & Spa

The Hotel Angkor Palace Resort & Spa Became as the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort & Spa

Siem Reap, 1st August 2011 - The 5 star hotel Angkor Palace Resort & Spa in Siem Reap became officially known as the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort & Spa following a partnership with the Soluxe Hospitality Group, a Singapore-based international hotel chain owned by the China National Petroleum Corporation.

A joyous ceremony, presided over by H.E. Dr. Cham Prasith, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia was held at the resort’s premises to officiate the event that was graced by senior officials from China as well as government officials from the Kingdom of Cambodia.

ChairmanMr. Ly Hong was all smiles when he addressed the audience of more than 250 invited guests; proudly sharing how he came about establishing the resort and the progress leading to a partnership with the Grand Soluxe Hospitality Group to take his resort to the next level.

Besides being the hospitality arm of the dynamic China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) which own assets and business interests in more than 27 countries worldwide, the Soluxe Hospitality Group manages several brands of hotel chain including such names as the Grand Soluxe, Soluxe, Soluxe Courtyard and Soluxe Inn. Currently, there are over 60 luxurious Soluxe hotels located within China and in several other major cities around the world.

H.E. Dr. Cham Prasidth, in his speech, used an allegory of a marriage to exemplify the ideal match of the partnership between the Grand Soluxe Hospitality Group and the Angkor Palace Resort & Spa. His Excellency is confident that with this ‘Marriage’, there will be no more ‘Low season’ for the resort. His Excellency also advised the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort & Spa to maintain the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard accredited by the ASEAN Hotel Association.

Dr. Thong Khon told the audience that “tourism as a system is a prioritized sector which contributes towards building up socio-economic development, job opportunities, income generation, and improvement of livelihood and poverty reduction.” He emphasized “Tourism is a vital part of the economy since its revenue is directly integrated into the national economy, contributing towards enhancing GDP growth and stabilizing commercial balance.” His Excellency also strongly hopes that this new opening will attract more international tourists, especially Chinese tourist to visit Siem reap province as well as Cambodia. "

According to statistical projection, Cambodia will receive around 8 million international tourists in year 2020, of which Siem Reap-Angkor is expected to receive about half of which at around 4 million tourists; not taking domestic travelers into account. UNWTO forecasted that the Chinese outbound tourism will reach 100,000,000 tourists in 2020 in whichCambodia expects to receive 1,2% of this share.

The accommodation sector, in particular hotels, is today one of the leading services playing a core role in the tourism industry.The official opening of the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is a true respond to the vision of the Ministry of Tourism; Improving the hotel industry quality and Promoting Cambodian tourism in the international market.

H. E. Dr. Thong Khon concluded his speech by recommending to the hotel management of Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort & Spa to offer more facilities to the Chinese market such as Chinese language on signboards or food menu, and also to give high attention to the environmental protection in order to contribute to the vision of Siem Reap city to be an Eco City in the near future. Source: MOT

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Tourism Indochina: Sihanoukville is a Colourful but Tragic Upstart

Tourism Indochina: Sihanoukville is a Colourful but Tragic Upstart

Sihanoukville (Krong Preah Seihanu), formerly Kompong Som and familiarly just Snookyville or even Snooky is a seaside town featuring Cambodia's best-known beaches.

In a land with thousands of years of history, Sihanoukville is a colourful but tragic upstart. A mere fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. Named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling prince of Cambodia, the booming port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia's jetsetting elite, spawning the first Angkor Beer brewery and the modernist seven-story Independence Hotel which, claim locals, even played host to Jacqueline Kennedy on her whirlwind tour of Cambodia in 1967. Peace returned in 1997 and in the ensuing ten years Sihanoukville has been busy picking up the pieces. First visited only by a few intrepid backpackers, guidebooks still talk of walls pockmarked by bullets, but any signs of war are hard to spot in today's Sihanoukville, whose new symbol seems to be the construction site.

After 30 years of housing only ghosts, the Independence Hotel is up and running again, more and more Khmers and expats have settled down to run bars and restaurants, and the knowledge of what the New York Times dubbed "Asia's next trendsetting beach" is starting to spread.

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Tourism Indochina: Baphuon Temple Was Built to Dedicate to the God Shiva

Tourism Indochina: Baphuon Temple Was Built to Dedicate to the God Shiva

The Baphuon (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបាពួន) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is the archetype of the Baphuon style. The temple adjoins the southern enclosure of the royal palace and measures 120 metres east-west by 100 metres north-south at its base and stands 34 meters tall without its tower, which would have made it roughly 50 meters tall. Its appearance apparently impressed Emperor Chengzong of Yuan China's late 13th century envoy Chou Ta-Kuan during his visit from 1296 to 1297, who said it was 'the Tower of Bronze...a truly astonishing spectacle, with more than ten chambers at its base.' In the late 15th century, the Baphuon was converted to a Buddhist temple. A 9 meter tall by 70 meter long statue of a reclining Buddha was built on the west side's second level, which probably required the demolition of the 8 meter tower above, thus explaining its current absence. The temple was built on land filled with sand, and due to its immense size the site was unstable throughout its history. Large portions had probably already collapsed by the time the Buddha was added.

By the 20th century, much of the temple had largely collapsed, and restoration efforts have since proven problematic: a first effort begun in 1960 was interrupted by the coming to power of the Khmer Rouge, and records of the positions of the stones were lost. A second attempt started in 1995 by a team of French-led archeologists as of 2005 was still ongoing, restricting visitor access. As of November 2010, partial visitor access was once again allowed, though not to the central structure.

In April 2011, after 51 years, the archaeologists finished the restoration of the temple. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and Prime Minister Francois Fillon of France were among those who first toured the renovated temple during the inauguration ceremony on July 3, 2011.

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Tourism Indochina: Phnom Bakheng One of Three Hilltop Temples in the Angkor Region

Phnom Bakheng (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភ្នំបាខែង) at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple in the form of a temple mountain. Dedicated to Shiva, it was built at the end of the 9th century, during the reign of King Yasovarman (889-910). Located atop a hill, it is nowadays a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat, which lies amid the jungle about 1.5 km to the southeast. The large number of visitors makes Phnom Bakheng one of the most threatened monuments of Angkor.

Constructed more than two centuries before Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng was in its day the principal temple of the Angkor region, historians believe. It was the architectural centerpiece of a new capital, Yasodharapura, that Yasovarman built when he moved the court from the capital Hariharalaya in the Roluos area located to the southeast.

An inscription dated 1052 AD. and found at the Sdok Kak Thom temple in present-day Thailand states in Sanskrit: "When Sri Yasovardhana became king under the name of Yasovarman, the able Vamasiva continued as his guru. By the king's order, he set up a linga on Sri Yasodharagiri, a mountain equal in beauty to the king of mountains." Scholars believe that this passage refers to the consecration of the Phnom Bakheng temple approximately a century and a half earlier.

Surrounding the mount and temple, labor teams built an outer moat. Avenues radiated out in the four cardinal directions from the mount. A causeway ran in a northwest-southeast orientation from the old capital area to the east section of the new capital's outer moat and then, turning to an east-west orientation, connected directly to the east entrance of the temple.

Phnom Bakheng is a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, home of the Hindu gods, a status emphasized by the temple’s location atop a steep hill. The temple faces east, measures 76 meters square at its base and is built in a pyramid form of six tiers. At the top level, five sandstone sanctuaries, in various states of repair, stand in a quincunx pattern—one in the center and one at each corner of the level’s square. Originally, 108 small towers were arrayed around the temple at ground level and on various of its tiers; most of them have collapsed.

Jean Filliozat of the Ecole Francaise, a leading authority on Indian cosmology and astronomy, interpreted the symbolism of the temple. The temple sits on a rectangular base and rises in five levels and is crowned by five main towers. One hundred four smaller towers are distributed over the lower four levels, placed so symmetrically that only 33 can be seen from the center of any side. Thirty-three is the number of gods who dwelt on Mount Meru. Phnom Bakheng's total number of towers is also significant. The center one represents the axis of the world and the 108 smaller ones represent the four lunar phases, each with 27 days. The seven levels of the monument represent the seven heavens and each terrace contains 12 towers which represent the 12-year cycle of Jupiter. According to University of Chicago scholar Paul Wheatley, it is "an astronomical calendar in stone."

Phnom Bakheng is one of three hilltop temples in the Angkor region that are attributed to Yasovarman's reign. The other two are Phnom Krom to the south near the Tonle Sap lake, and Phnom Bok, northeast of the East Baray reservoir.

Following Angkor's rediscovery by the outside world in the mid-19th century, decades passed before archeologists grasped Phnom Bakheng's historical significance. For many years, scholars' consensus view was that the Bayon, the temple located at the center of Angkor Thom city, was the edifice to which the Sdok Kak Thom inscription referred. Later work identified the Bayon as a Buddhist site, built almost three centuries later than originally thought, in the late 12th century, and Phnom Bakheng as King Yasovarman's state temple.

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Tourism Indochina: Sihanoukville Declaration on Multilateral Cooperation for Ecotourism Development

Tourism Indochina: Sihanoukville Declaration on Multilateral Cooperation for Ecotourism Development

Under the aegis of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), over 300 participants from over 20 countries, comprising of tourism leaders and captains of the industry representing the public sector, private sector, academic institutions, civil societies and ecotourism stakeholders congregated at the 3rd World Ecotourism Conference 2011, at Preah Sihanouk Province, Kingdom of Cambodia, 3 - 5 October 2011; AND

The Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia; the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR; the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia; the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam, represented by the respective Honourable Ministers, Deputy Ministers and heads of delegates met at the 1st Ministerial Round Table Meeting on Multilateral Cooperation for Ecotourism Development on 4th October 2011, a parallel session held in conjunction with the 3rd World Ecotourism Conference at Preah Sihanouk Province, Kingdom of Cambodia, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Cambodia adopted the following declaration;

The Ministry of Tourism of Kenya and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism of Tanzania recognized the value and the importance of the Declaration;

....More details at MOT of Cambodia


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