Tourism Indochina: Vietnam visitors drive tourism stats

Vietnam visitors drive tourism stats

International tourist arrivals to Cambodia increased nearly 28 per cent during the first quarter of the year compared with the corresponding period of 2011, Ministry of Tourism data shows.

The country drew more than 995,000 tourists from abroad during the three-month period, up from 778,467 a year earlier, according to figures obtained by the Post.

Leading the industry in numbers were almost 179,000 Vietnamese tourists, or 18 per cent of the market.

Officials attributed continued Vietnamese dominance in Cambodia’s tourism market to proximity, while expressing a hope Chinese visitors would acccount for a greater share.

“In recent times, we see the Vietnamese at the top of the market because this nation is close to us and they can access Cambodia [by boat, plane or land],” ministry general director Tith Chantha said yesterday.

“In the future, we hope that Chinese tourists will hold the record.”

Government officials said last week Cambodia hoped to attract a million Chinese tourists by 2020.

About 250,000 visited last year.

Tourism officials told the Post this month a recent bilateral trade agreement between China and Cambodia could have a significant impact on the volume of Chinese tourists entering the country.

Doubling the bilateral trade to $5 billion a year – an agreement made during a recent visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao – could lead to more Cambodia tourism marketing in China, the Post reported.

More than 151,000 Korean tourists, or 15 per cent of the market, visited Cambodia from January to March. Chinese, Japanese, Russian and UK tourists followed in market share.

About 50 per cent of tourists flew into the country, but arrivals by land and sea grew by 38 per cent. Only four per cent of tourists arrived on boats, data shows.

Data for increases in tourism revenue is not available, but Cambodian Association of Travel Agents president Ang Kim Eang said growth was comparable to the jump in visitors.

A leakage in tourism revenue to other countries was worrying, Ang Kim Eang said.

Many tourism products such as souvenirs were imported from other countries and hotel investment was inadequate, he said.

“Khmer hotel investors don’t buy international brand names. This doesn’t help advertise our hotels, and guests don’t come to stay.” Source: PPPost

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Tourism Indochina: New technologies essential for the future of snow and mountain tourism

New technologies essential for the future of snow and mountain tourism

New technologies - from the Internet to social media and mobile technologies - are increasingly crucial in promoting and attracting new visitors to snow and mountain destinations, agreed participants meeting at the 7th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism (La Massana, Andorra, 11-12 April 2012).

A record 400 participants from 32 countries gathered in Andorra to discuss the strategies available to snow and mountain destinations, with a special focus on the role of new technologies.

“New communication technologies, particularly the Internet, have been game-changers for the tourism sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “This Congress is being held to shed light on how these new technologies are transforming the tourism sector and providing a powerful tool in the development and promotion of destinations.”

Mountain destinations are proving themselves “highly innovative”, he continued, and are increasingly making use of new technologies to diversify products and markets and remain competitive.

This was demonstrated at the Congress through a number of case studies from established and emerging snow and mountain destinations. The ski resorts neighbouring the Korean city of Ulsan are encouraging visitors to use their smart phones to share their experiences, explained the Deputy Mayor of Ulsan, Oh Dong-ho. In the popular ski resort of Flaine, France, the promotion of free activities via social networks has resulted in a significant increase in summer visitors, said the Director of the Flaine Tourism Office, Pierre Claessen. Source: UNWTO


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Tourism Indochina: Serene getaway to Kep's Rabbit Island

Serene getaway to Kep's Rabbit Island

Coastal holidays tend to attract two types of people. There are those who want to while away their leisure time in fits of all-night drinking, dancing and decadence, and those who want to lazily sprawl out under the sun, their only movements for days being the slow trudge from sand to sea and back again.

Those needing a change of pace from life in the capital, rather than the same after-hours party in a beachside location, would greet the islands off Kep with open arms.

Despite its history as a French colonial resort town, the imminent development of nearby Mount Bokor and the immense natural beauty of its forests, Kep province remains relatively untapped as a holiday and tourist destination.

There are no blaring car horns, no raised voices and daily life appears to the outsider to be so serene and tranquil that time slows to a standstill.

One of the province’s most popular destinations is Rabbit Island, a lush green landmass that takes up a reasonable portion of the horizon looking out from Kep Beach.

Besides the mile-long stretch of white sands and still, shallow waters, visitors can spend an hour or two roaming a path through the jungle and catch sight of the monkey colony living at the base of the hills.

Like other beaches in the region, visitors rent out space from the restaurants and cafes lining the shore.

The real estate itself is free if people stay for lunch, a reasonably priced assortment of shrimp, squid, fried fish and the provincial specialty of crab, usually for US$3 to $5 per serve.

Most of the island’s visitors choose to stay in Kep Town, ferrying across early in the morning and returning in time to catch the sunset back on the mainland.

This is a more cost effective option than going through a driver or travel agent: Hotel and guesthouse managers can organise groups of guests to travel together, usually costing $5 to $7 per person for the ride to and from the pier as well as the half-hour ferry journey to Rabbit Island Beach.

There are a number of other islands littered across the coastline, all within about 20 minutes journey of each other. Anyone who can’t abide resting in one place at length can take a day-long ferry cruise of half a dozen of the islands for $20 per pax.

More enterprising souls can spend a night in the thatched hut bungalows along the beach.

Accommodation on the island is quite Spartan, with no electricity late in the evening and very basic washrooms, but the experience is worth it for anyone craving a good night’s sleep with only the sound of crickets and the tide. These bungalows are usually $5 to $10 per night, depending on negotiating skills.

The most sublime part of a Rabbit Island sojourn, however, is arguably the journey itself.

A gentle cruise on a long wooden motorboat across the coastal waters offers beautiful views of the jungle-dappled mountains of Kep and the Gulf of Thailand at its calmest.

After months on the slog amongst busy traffic and moto horns, it’s a fine antidote to the ills of the big city. Source:PPPost/18-Apr-2012

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Tourism Indochina: British Airways A380 begins construction

British Airways A380 begins construction

Construction has begun on British Airways’ first super jumbo, the Airbus A380, due for delivery next year.

British Airways has ordered 12 of the world’s roomiest aircraft, the A380, and 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which means it is on track to be first airline in the world to have both new aircraft types in its fleet.

Routes for the airline’s first A380 and B787 will be announced in due course.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief executive said: “We’re really excited that work has started on building the first of our 12 Airbus A380s.

“They represent a significant part of a huge investment by British Airways, of £5bn over the next five years in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

“Our teams across the airline have been working in partnership with Airbus to ensure that preparations are well underway for us to receive this pioneering and leading edge aircraft, so that it goes smoothly into service for British Airways for the first time next year.

“Until then, we’ll continue working towards the successful delivery of both the A380 and B787, to ensure our customers have a fantastic flying experience on these amazing aircraft.”

The first parts of the A380 to be constructed are the forward fuselage and the aft fuselage sections which are being assembled and equipped in Hamburg.

Other parts of the fuselage such as the nose and the centre sections are being assembled in Saint Nazaire and Meaulte in France, as well as the tailfin in Stade (France), while the horizontal tail plane is manufactured in Spain.

Meanwhile, the undercarriage is being assembled in Canada and France, the wings in Broughton in Lancashire, and the Rolls Royce engines in Derbyshire.

Dedicated teams across British Airways are working behind the scenes for the entry into service of both the A380 and B787 Dreamliner later next year.

Work has involved teams from engineering, flight operations, cabin and flight crew, customer services, ground and airport operations, marketing, IT, strategy and planning to ensure both aircraft move swiftly into service.

Last year British Airways completed the latest phase of a multi-million pound redevelopment of its Heathrow engineering base to prepare for the arrival of the new fleet of A380s, B787s and Boeing 777-300s.

This included a new 24 tonne roof ‘eyebrow’ which was lifted into place in one of the aircraft hangars, which raised the height of the entrance to accommodate the A380’s 24 metre tailfin. Source: breakingtravelnews/17-Apr-2012

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Tourism Indochina: Arrivals at Cambodia’s airports up 20 per cent

Arrivals at Cambodia’s airports up 20 per cent

Arrivals at Cambodia’s two biggest airports increased by about 20 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2012, according to Cambodia Airports.

Industry insiders said economic progress in the region coupled with increased flights added to the passenger count at Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport, which saw increases of 14 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.

The two airports counted 608,281 arrivals during the first quarter, up from 505,318 during the same period last year. International arrivals rose by about 27 per cent during the period.

“The improvement in the Asia-Pacific economy also contributed to the growth. We noticed a lot of tourists from these countries where there is a large number of middle class people,” Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said.

About 1.84 million tourists from ASEAN and East Asian countries visited Cambodia in 2011, or 69 per cent of total incoming tourists, ministry data showed.

Ho Vandy, co-chair of Cambodia’s Tourism Working Group, said airlines have boosted flights on increased demand.

“I noticed that some existing airlines are increasing the number of flights because they have an increase in number of passengers to our country.”

Figures from Cambodia Airports also showed that the amount of cargo passing through Phnom Penh International Airport rose by about 30 per cent, while domestic cargo through Siem Reap International Airport rose by 91.17 per cent.

By:May Kunmakara/11 April 2012 /PPPost

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Tourism Indochina: Flicks from around the world to screen at Angkor Wat Film Festival

Flicks from around the world to screen at Angkor Wat Film Festival

Cannes, Venice, Hollywood, step aside and make way. Siem Reap is the latest destination to become a movie Mecca, as the inaugural Angkor Wat Film Festival comes to town.

The Sofitel Resort will screen 31 films from February 17 to 19, welcoming guests and visitors to the viewings for free. Showing from 1pm to 11pm and including both shorts and features, all schedules and attention spans will be catered for.

The festival is the work of Emmy-awarding winning filmmaker, Tom Vendetti. Vendetti, who lives in Maui, Hawaii, said he was encouraged to bring a festival to Siem Reap by newspaper publisher Bernie Krisher. “I had met Bernie several years ago after working with him building a school in Cambodia,” he said.

“This is the first international film festival in Cambodia with the primary goal of preserving culture and the environment”.

With this idea in mind, most of the films on the program carry an element of environmental or cultural awareness, like Climate Refugees, which explores the impact of climate change on society, or Kipuka, a detailed study of Hawaii’s cultural identity.

“Siem Reap appeared to be the ideal setting for our event considering the monuments and profound history in the area,” Vendetti said. “Also, ecotourism is taking off in Siem Reap, which is promoting the culture and preserving the environment.”

Along with the movies there will be opportunity to meet some of the filmmakers in the flesh and hear them discuss their work on the final night, at a poolside dinner showing of one of Vendetti’s own works, When The Mountain Calls; Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan.

Vendetti, who also works as a psychologist, said he brings his two passions together to create his style of filmmaking. “I try to combine my interest in psychology and filmmaking to explore wisdom presented in ancient cultures and share the wisdom to promote happiness.”

He said one of the highlights of the program will be the Opening Gala which will feature Soul Surfer, a highly acclaimed true story about teen surfer Bethany Hamilton. The toast of Cannes last year, the film follows Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack at just 13 but went on to become a professional surfer.

The festival is truly global, featuring films shot in Fiji (Vendetti’s Fiji Firewalkers), the Serengeti (Milking The Rhino) and Iceland (Dreamland) to name but a few.

But of course, the host country takes centre stage with a number of Cambodian-made or based productions.

Born Sweet by Cynthia Wade is an award-winning documentary about a Khmer teen poisoned by arsenic who dreams of being a karaoke star.

Years of Darkness is another film by Vendetti, which tells of story of Sam Khong. After fighting for the Vietcong as a young teen, Khong was marooned in the US when the Khmer Rouge took power. The film follows him on his return to his birthplace in Cambodia almost thirty years later.

And no Cambodian film festival would be complete without the Kingdom’s own iconic filmmaker, Norodom Sihanouk. Two of the King Father’s works will be shown, La Cité Mystérieuse and Une Paysanne En Détresse. The latter, Peasants in Distress, is a love triangle set against the backdrop of war, political upheaval and UN intervention in the early 90s. Mysterious City was shot in 1988 during his time in exile.

The King Father is in good company. Many of the films in the festival have received accolades and acclaim. For a town with no formal cinema, the notion of becoming a destination for touring top films will be a hit with locals. As for the organisers, they’re hoping the Angkor Wat Film Festival will put Siem Reap on the map for more than just its temples. Source:PPpost

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Tourism Indochina: German 'Tourists in Danger' at Angkor

German 'Tourists in Danger' at Angkor

Germans are the self-declared world champions of traveling, and every year they spend nearly US$80 billion on flights, hotels and tours to escape their cold home country.

But some of their dream holidays turn into nightmares, with more than 2,500 Germans being sent to prison annually in exotic destinations.

Seven years ago the German Federal Bureau of Investigation (BKA) established a new department called International Coordination, with 62 officers in 48 countries enlisted to help prove guilt or innocence of their fellow citizens who are accused of drug dealing, sexual abuse, theft or even murder in foreign countries.

Germany’s most popular commercial TV channel RTL dedicated a new crime series to this department.

The series, IK1 – Touristen in Gefahr (Tourists in Danger) presents the adventures of special agent Florian Blessing and profiler Nadja Hansen, played by Tobias Oertel and Eva-Maria Grein. One of their first cases brought them – accompanied by a filming crew of 60 people – to Cambodia.

In the fictitious plot a young archaeologist, working on excavations in Angkor, is found dead, and his German girlfriend is accused of murdering him.

Director and author Jan-Martin Scharf chose Bayon and Ta Nei as the main temple locations, with additional filming in Ta Prohm, at the South and Victory Gate of Angkor Thom , and of course in front of Angkor Wat during sunrise.

“It’s an honor that we got permission to work in these famous and sacred places,” the director said.

Initially, the use of weapons in the temples and the brutal killing of a foreigner in Angkor were hard to accept for the Ministry of Information and the Apsara Authority, but finally they gave the green light.

But one scene with a landmine had to be expunged from the screenplay. “The authorities emphasized that all landmines were removed from the main tourist area and therefore we had to accept their concerns,” production manager Karsten Kilian said.

The leading actors came from Germany and Thailand, but up to 50 Cambodian extras were hired on each of the eleven shooting days. Among them were real policemen, firemen, restoration workers and four fake monks. Furthermore, three local police cars, a fire engine, an ambulance, a taxi and many tuk tuks were hired to create an authentic scene of crime next to Ta Nei temple.

The unfamiliar heat was a big challenge for the European crew members, but an even bigger challenge was importing trucks, equipment and 30 movie specialists from Thailand to Cambodia.

“Before we came to Angkor, we were filming episodes in Thailand for a long time and had recruited a great crew there,” director Jan-Martin Scharf said. “It was hard to convince the Cambodian government that we need these Thai people in Cambodia. Finally we got permission, but I was very surprised about the political tensions between these two neighboring countries.”

With regard to enthusiasm, curiosity and handicraft skills, the director considers Cambodia a film nation. “But compared with Thailand, Cambodia is still lacking some equipment and manpower,” he added.

“According to the leading actors, this is compensated by the kindness of the people and the splendor of the temples.”

“Angkor is amazing. Everybody should come here,” said Tobias Oertel, after a day of sightseeing. Eva-Maria Grein, who stars in another TV series called Kreuzfahrt ins Glück (Cruise into Happiness) since 2006 and has filmed in many foreign countries, agrees.

“I love Southeast Asia and its people who seem to be much happier than most of the Germans who live in wealth, but never smile.”

Filming for IK1 will continue in Hong Kong and Thailand until the end of March, with the north of Thailand doubling as remote areas of Laos, and the Thai island of Koh Lanta doubling as an island in Malaysia.

The four episodes will probably be broadcast on RTL in October this year, and if IK1 turns out to be a success among German viewers, four more episodes will be filmed in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana. Source:Phnompenhpost(23 March 2012)

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Tourism Indochina: World Tourism Organization focuses on tourism and the media

World Tourism Organization focuses on tourism and the media

The first international conference dedicated exclusively to the relationship between tourism and the media is to be held by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Croatia under the title Tourism in the Headlines (September 12-13, Zagreb, Croatia).

The conference will address why, despite being one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economic sectors, tourism rarely makes the headlines or the economic pages of newspapers. Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals, and the automotive industry, yet its economic and development relevance is often overlooked by the media.

The conference aims to improve the extent and accuracy of tourism coverage; a highly image-sensitive sector in which negative press and sensational stories can mean the loss of livelihoods. Counting on the presence of top communications experts, it will also be an opportunity for tourism communicators to learn of the tools and strategies available for getting their story across.

Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of Croatia, and featuring CNN as global media partner, Tourism in the Headlines will bring together members of the global media, the specialized travel media, communication officials from tourism administrations, and communications experts from around the world.
Source: unwto.org/July-2011

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Tourism Indochina: Koh Rong Island Attracts World’s famous Media Station in France

Tourism Indochina: Koh Rong Island Attracts World’s famous Media Station in France

Preah Sihanouk Province-On Saturday, February 4, 2011 H.E Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Tourism and was honorably invited by the France-based international media, Adventure Line Production, to join the team and witness the successful adventure trip filming to be broadcasted in France-based TF1 TV network and via Internet link to all Francophone TV networks with millions of audiences all over the world in one hand, and on the other hand to join hand with Cambodia to promote the worldly-recognized idyllic coastal zone of Cambodia, particularly in Koh Rong island, also known as Koh Lanta Program, to the world.

During the closing of Koh Lanta Program which has taken about triple weeks ago in Koh Rong island, Mr. THIERRY GRAFF, the Production Director, expressed his deep interests in selecting Koh Rong island as one of the destinations for Koh Lanta Program due to the fact that Koh Rong island is rich of amazing natural resources among other islands in Asia, leading to the company’s successful filming. At the same time, he also recalled the background of Koh Lanta Program since 11 years ago through the winner contest performance. Finally, the winner will be awarded 10 thousand Euros. This program produced nine series, one of which takes about 120 minutes. The activities were filmed on airplane to capture the gorgeous sceneries in the island and the beautiful landscape along mountains, waterfalls, big stones and other interesting areas.

The Koh Lanta Program chose 14 candidates to join the contest in each subject and only one candidate will be awarded. This game requires each candidate to know how to do well with regard to individual strategy to claim the championship.

In naturally smiling face, the Tourism Minister, H.E Dr. THONG Khon, pointed out the reason the Adventure Line Production chose Cambodia’s Koh Rong Island as the destination for filming as Cambodia is rich of unique natural resources best for giant international film productions, particularly the ranges of beautiful islands. Based on the Koh Lanta Program to be world-wide broadcasted especially in Francophone countries, it is truly witnessed that Cambodia is a peaceful nation with its own sovereignty. Furthermore, it not only shows the world the improved living condition of Cambodian people with pleasant life style in harmony but also exposes the potential of Cambodia’s coastal zones, natural views of mountains and waterfalls which is the main engine pushing tourism growth.

H.E Minister of Tourism further emphasized that after admission of Cambodia Bay into the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club and following the Sea Festival 2011 “Cambodia Bay-The Rising Star of the Southwest”, tourist arrival to coastal zones therefore has soared 10%. It is found that lots of foreign tourists visit either big or small islands. French tourists to Cambodia in 2011 were recorded around 117,000, an increase of 3.6%, ranked the 7th of top 10 tourist source market to Cambodia.

The filming of 75,000-hectar Koh Rong island of the Adventure Line Production has been authorized by the Royal Government of Cambodia and supported by various private sectors. Source: MoT

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