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

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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

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Tourism Indochina: Funds raised helped 870 families from Cambodia’s Flood victims

Funds raised helped 870 families from Cambodia’s Flood victims

The inspiration for the flood relief appeal came from the children of Green Gecko who shared their concerns about the food crisis caused by the localized extensive flooding. The kids made a proposal on how they would like to help, “Our plan is to save money from our own food spending to buy rice, canned fish, soy sauce and clean water for families that need help. We are looking for partners to join us in our efforts.” Inspired by this initiative, Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Resort, Heritage Suites Hotel, Exotissimo Travel Cambodia are collaborating to raise funds to purchase and deliver food and fresh water to 1,200 families in the hardest hit provinces, whom have not yet received any aid.

On October 20, 2011, twenty management and staff from Siem Reap’s tourism business, together with 16 kids from the Green Gecko family worked hand in hand to pack 15 kg of rice, tinned fish and soy sauce and deliver the supplies to three villages and 400 families in the outskirts of Siem Reap who are still in desperate need of aid. On Friday 21st & Sunday October 23rd another 470 families in the Kampong Thom province received the same assistance and other actions are planned for the coming weeks.

Flooding has spread across 17 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces, killing 247 people, forcing the evacuation of more than 34,000 households, and destroying some 200,000 hectares of rice fields, says the National Committee for Disaster Management. Vegetable plots have been destroyed, livestock have been lost and the price of rice has gone up by more than 50%. Access to food is critical for thousands of families, and food security will be a vital concern for thousands more for weeks and months to come.

“Despite scorching sun and torrential rain our common goal of delivering much needed food and water to 870 families across 7 villages was achieved. It just goes to show, all you need is some passion, a common goal and friends willing to work together and you can see what can be achieved. Thank you for supporting our kids in their initiative and involving them in such a great community project… you all made them feel very special and worthy.” said Tania Palmer, the co‐founder and director of the Green Gecko Project.

The three hotels and travel partner are continuously launching appeals to both guests and friends to raise funds for a Direct Action for Emergency Flood Relief. The call likewise goes out to anyone who can and wishes to assist families in plain desperate need. Funds donated go directly and entirely to the purchase of rice, fish and water for those families. Anyone wishing to help should contact the hotels directly or go to http://www.razoo.com/story/Floodreliefcollaboration to donate online.

Source: Breakingtravelnews/29th Oct 2011

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Tourism Indochina: Visitors from Vietnam up 18 per cent in Q1

Visitors from Vietnam up 18 per cent in Q1

The number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Cambodia and Cambodians visiting Vietnam has increased recently, according to new data released by the Cambodian tourism ministry.

Vietnam has the largest number of tourists visiting Cambodia at 600,000, or 21 per cent, of all international visitors.

In the first quarter this year there was an 18 per cent increase in the number of Vietnamese tourists compared to the same time last year, said Thong Khon, Cambodia’s tourism minister.

“Most Vietnamese tourists who come to Cambodia visit Angkor Wat and many report that they like Cambodian fish and enjoy visiting Cambodian markets,” said Thong Khon.

The Cambodian tourism ministry estimates that the number of Cambodians visiting Vietnam has increased by 30 per cent annually over the past several years.

“About 420,000 Cambodians visit Vietnam annually, and many go there for health care,” said Thong Khon.

He said the ministry is very interested in increasing tourism between not only Vietnam but especially other nearby ASEAN nations.

“We have a lot of projects to increase tourism in the region,” he said.

Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam held talks on the subject at the 8th International Travel Expo in Ho Chi Minh City from September 14 to 17 last year, and the Cambodian tourism ministry plans to attend another from the September 13 to 15 this year, he said.

Vietnam and Cambodia now have a cross-border transportation agreement under which 19 companies have licences to operate.

Thirty-nine trips with 300 buses travel to and from Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh every day, according to the Cambodian tourism ministry.

Recently another luxury bus service, offering six trips a day to Phnom Penh from Ho Chi Minh City, has been launched by the Cambodian tourism ministry and NagaWorld Group.

Source: PPPost/22May2012

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Tourism Indochina: Bokor resort slated to bolster Kampot tourism

Bokor resort slated to bolster Kampot tourism

Kampot officials are looking to the Bokor Mountain Resort, a US$1 billion project that opens today, to drive tourism growth in the burgeoning seaside destination.

The provincial Tourism Department said the number of domestic visitors to Kampot had risen 120 per cent to 338,000 in the first four months of this year, but the local government expects that figure to increase significantly now the casino complex is operating.

“I think that after the official opening, it will be a top tourism attraction,” Kampot Tourism Department director Soy Sinol said yesterday.

Kampot governor Khoy Khun Huor echoed those sentiments, claiming the resort’s soft launch in late March had been well received and numbers would continue to rise.

“Before [today] we just opened for occasional ceremonies, and there were a considerable numbers of guests,” Khoy Khun Huor said.

“So now that we’re open regularly, we expect those numbers will continue to rise.”

The resort would also create much-needed jobs in the province, Khoy Khun Huor added.

In January, 2008, the government granted the Sokha Hotel Group, owned by Sokimex Investment Group, a 99-year lease for the US$1 billion development, the Post reported in March.

As well as the casino, the project will include a 700-room, 18-storey, five-star hotel, along with conference rooms, bars, wedding facilities and two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses.

Hundreds of houses and villas were expected to dot the mountain by the time the project was completed in about 15 years, the Post reported at the time.

Vietnamese-owned BIDC provided financing for the hotel, as well as for Sokha’s Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville projects.

Thansur Bokor Highland Resort chief executive Dr Ngin Banal said yesterday that so far, Cambodian tourists had outnumbered foreign visitors to the mountain getaway. He assumed that trend would continue going forward.

“For the future market, local guests will lead the numbers compared with international guests,” Ngin Banal said.

In March, he told the Post the resort’s primary target was the greater Mekong region, including Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, with southern China and Korea serving as secondary markets.

The number of international visitors to Kampot jumped 29 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of 2012 to 9,000 from 7,000 the year before, statistics show. Source: PPPost

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Tourism Indochina: Cambodia aims to net a million Chinese tourists by 2020

Cambodia aims to net a million Chinese tourists by 2020

Cambodia is aiming for a four-fold increase in the number of Chinese tourists it attracts to the country by 2020, an official said at an ASEAN seminar for tourism.

The government expects 600,000 Chinese nationals to visit every year by 2015 and over 1 million by 2020, So Visothy, director of the marketing and promotion department at the Ministry of Tourism, said on Tuesday.

The Kingdom now attracts a quarter of a million Chinese visitors annually.

As part of the strategy, the government has pledged to encourage more direct flights and to invest in the promotion of the Chinese language.

So Visothy also promised more advertising for Cambodia under the theme “Kingdom of Wonder” in China and on the internet.

“We see China as the priority market,” he said. “China is very big, has a vast population and their economy is good.”

He added that the close relationship between the two governments made cooperation easy.

Matt Thompson, project director at the China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market, said that the expected jump in Chinese travellers in less than 10 years is achievable, but there is work to be done.

“Chinese travellers often expect to find on holiday the sort of services they can find at home. This includes Chinese speaking staff, Chinese breakfasts, newspapers, TV, even hotel rooms featuring lucky number eight and not unlucky number four,” he said. Source: PPPost

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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: 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: 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: 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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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: 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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Tourism Indochina: The Great Khmer Empire Movie - The US $70 Million Movie in The Kingdom Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: The Great Khmer Empire Movie - The US $70 Million Movie in The Kingdom Cambodia

The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city during the empire's zenith. Angkor bears testimony to the Khmer empire's immense power and wealth, as well as the variety of belief systems that it patronised over time. The empire's official religions included Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, until Theravada Buddhism prevailed, even among the lower classes, after its introduction from Sri Lanka in the 13th century. Modern researches by satellites have revealed Angkor to be the largest pre-industrial urban center in the world. The history of Angkor as the central area of settlement of the historical kingdom of Kambujadesa is also the history of the Khmer from the 9th to the 13th centuries. From Kambuja itself - and so also from the Angkor region - no written records have survived other than stone inscriptions. Therefore the current knowledge of the historical Khmer civilization is derived primarily from:

- archaeological excavation, reconstruction and investigation
- stone inscriptions (most important are foundation steles of temples), which report on the political and religious deeds of the kings
- reliefs in a series of temple walls with depictions of military marches, life in the palace, market scenes and also the everyday lives of the population
- reports and chronicles of Chinese diplomats, traders and travellers.

The beginning of the era of the Khmer Empire is conventionally dated to 802 AD. In this year, king Jayavarman II had himself declared chakravartin ("king of the world", or "king of kings") on Phnom Kulen.

Tourism Indochina: The Great Khmer Empire Movie - The US $70 Million Movie in The Kingdom Cambodia:

A famous Chinese action movie star Jet Li (Chinese name: Li Lianjie), and American movie actress Angelina Jolie are expected to be included in a new movie to be produced in Cambodia. In a press conference held on Wednesday in Phnom Penh, Thomas Magyar, a project manager for the planned movie, and Tony Schiena, a project coordinator and a Hollywood star said the film they had planned to produce will be named as “Great Khmer Empire.” They said the film might cost approximately 70 million US dollars and it will need about three years to make it, saying the large time span will be caused by the consultations with Cambodian government and historians on accuracy of the history as well as the script writing. Both Tony Schiena and Thomas Magyar said, to date, they are looking at several famous movies stars such as Jet Li, Chinese action star, Angelina Jolie, an American movie actress, John Cena, world’s famous wrester and South Korean movie actress Song Hye Kyo among others. The movie will focus on history of Cambodia, especially, during the glorious period in 11th and 12th century under the King Jayavarman the VII, who until today, considered as the great King of Cambodia and who finished up the building of Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.

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Tourism Indochina: Chinese Delegation Arrives in Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: Chinese Delegation Arrives in Cambodia

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-02-04): A good-will delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrived in Phnom Penh on Wednesday on the final leg of a regional tour to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The delegation, led by Chen Jianguo, secretary of the CPC Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee, paid the visit here as guest of the Cambodian People's Party and Funcinpec Party. Source: Xinhua

The Communist Party of China (CPC), also known as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Although nominally it exists alongside the United Front, a coalition of governing political parties, in practice, the CPC is the only party of the PRC, maintaining a unitary government and centralizing the state, military, and media. The legal power of the Communist Party is guaranteed by the national constitution. The current party leader is Hu Jintao, who holds the title of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
The party was founded in July, 1921 in Shanghai. After a lengthy civil war, the party defeated its primary rival, the Kuomintang (KMT), and expanded into all of mainland China by 1949. The Kuomintang retreated to the island of Taiwan, which it still retains to this day. The party has fluctuated between periods of reform and political conservatism throughout its history. Both before and after the founding of the PRC, the CPC's history is defined by various power struggles and ideological battles, including destructive socio-political movements such as the Cultural Revolution. At first a conventional member of the international Communist movement, the CPC broke with its counterpart in the Soviet Union over ideology in the 1960s. The Communist Party's ideology was redefined under Deng Xiaoping to incorporate principles of market economics, and the corresponding reforms enabled rapid and sustained economic growth.

The CPC is the world's largest political party, claiming over 80 million members at the end of 2010 which constitutes about 6.0% of the total population of mainland China. The vast majority of military and civil officials are members of the Party. Since 1978, the Communist Party has attempted to institutionalize transitions of power and consolidate its internal structure. The modern party stresses unity and avoids public conflict while practicing a pragmatic and open (within the party structure) democratic centralism.

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Tourism Indochina: Tourism to Cambodia Jumped More Than 14 Percent

Tourism Indochina: Tourism to Cambodia Jumped More Than 14 Percent

Tourism to Cambodia jumped more than 14 percent in the year to May, with Siem Reap posting the largest influx of foreign visitors, government figures show, although the Angkor temple town experienced a first-quarter dip in the number of arrivals from the same period in 2007.

Kong Sopheareak, director of the statistics department at the Ministry of Tourism, told the Post that Cambodia was on track to attract 2.3 million visitors this year, adding that political stability and infrastructure improvements had increased the number of tourist destinations in the country.

This diversification could be behind the seven percent drop in arrivals to Cambodia’s most popular tourist draw, the Angkor temple town of Siem Reap, tourism officials said Elsewhere in Cambodia saw a significant surge in visitors, such as coastal resorts and the northeastern provinces of Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri, according to Sopheareak, who added that tourism was hoped to earn Cambodia some $1.64 billion this year. He dismissed concerns that the July 27 general election would impact the tourism sector, which is one of the few viable industries in the impoverished country.

Ho Vandy, president of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, told the Post on June 10 that he too was optimistic that the polls would have little effect on arrival figures. Cambodia’s year-long political stalemate following general elections in 2003 had resulted in a 12 percent drop in visitors, he said.

Tourism is a fragile sector and if there is instability or unrest no tourists will want to come, so we hope all political parties will resolve any election issues peacefully,” he said.South Koreans continue to make up the largest group of foreign visitors, followed by Vietnamese and then Japanese, according to tourism ministry figures. Written by Nguon Sovan and Peter Olszewski.

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Tourism Indochina: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Continue To Support Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Continue To Support Cambodia

Angelina Jolie (born June 4, 1975) is an American actor and director. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has been cited as the world's "most beautiful" woman, a title for which she has received substantial media attention. Jolie made her screen debut as a child alongside her father Jon Voight in Lookin' to Get Out (1982), but her film career began in earnest a decade later with the low-budget production Cyborg 2 (1993). Her first leading role in a major film was in the cyber-thriller Hackers (1995). She starred in the critically acclaimed biographical television films George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Girl, Interrupted (1999). Jolie achieved wide fame after her portrayal of video game heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), and established herself among the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood with the sequel The Cradle of Life (2003). She reinforced her reputation as a leading action star with Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and Wanted (2008)—her biggest non-animated commercial successes to date—and received further critical acclaim for her performances in the dramas A Mighty Heart (2007) and Changeling (2008), which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Jolie made her directorial debut with the wartime drama In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011).
Divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton, Jolie now lives with actor Brad Pitt, in an association notable for fervent media attention. Jolie and Pitt have three adopted children, Maddox, Pax, and Zahara, and three biological children, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.

William Bradley "Brad" Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one. He has been described as one of the world's most attractive men, a label for which he has received substantial media attention. Pitt began his acting career with television guest appearances, including a role on the CBS prime-time soap opera Dallas in 1987. He later gained recognition as the cowboy hitchhiker who seduces Geena Davis's character in the 1991 road movie Thelma & Louise. Pitt's first leading roles in big-budget productions came with A River Runs Through It (1992) and Interview with the Vampire (1994). He was cast opposite Anthony Hopkins in the 1994 drama Legends of the Fall, which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. In 1995 he gave critically acclaimed performances in the crime thriller Seven and the science fiction film 12 Monkeys, the latter securing him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. Four years later, in 1999, Pitt starred in the cult hit Fight Club. He then starred in the major international hit as Rusty Ryan in Ocean's Eleven (2001) and its sequels, Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007). His greatest commercial successes have been Troy (2004) and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005). Pitt received his second Academy Award nomination for his title role performance in the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Following a high-profile relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Pitt was married to actress Jennifer Aniston for five years. Pitt lives with actress Angelina Jolie in a relationship that has generated wide publicity. He and Jolie have six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. Since beginning his relationship with Jolie, he has become increasingly involved in social issues both in the United States and internationally. Pitt owns a production company named Plan B Entertainment, whose productions include the 2007 Academy Award winning Best Picture, The Departed.

Tourism Indochina: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Continue To Support Cambodia:
(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2006-12-29): The two have donated millions of dollars and teamed up with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and his anti-poverty organization Millennium Promise on an economic-development program in northwestern Cambodia. Seventy MJP workers will work with Sach?s group on activities including rice planting, distribution of beds to fight malaria, school meal programs and providing medicine for clinics.
Jolie tells People, We have learned so much and I think we are on the right track. We hope people will travel to Cambodia. The people there have overcome so much. Pitt adds, It was incredibly moving to visit my son's country.

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Tourism Indochina: Former US president Bill Clinton Made a Surprise Visit to Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: Former US president Bill Clinton Made a Surprise Visit to Cambodia

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III; August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation. Clinton has been described as a New Democrat. Many of his policies have been attributed to a centrist Third Way philosophy of governance, while on other issues his stance was center-left. Born and raised in Arkansas, Clinton became both a student leader and a skilled musician. He is an alumnus of Georgetown University where he was Phi Beta Kappa and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to attend the University of Oxford. He is married to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has served as the United States Secretary of State since 2009 and was the Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009. Both Clintons received law degrees from Yale Law School, where they met and began dating. As Governor of Arkansas, Clinton overhauled the state's education system, and served as Chair of the National Governors Association. Clinton was elected president in 1992, defeating incumbent president George H.W. Bush. As president, Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. He signed into law the North American Free Trade Agreement. He implemented Don't ask, don't tell, a controversial intermediate step to full gay military integration. After a failed health care reform attempt, Republicans won control of Congress in 1994, for the first time in forty years. Two years later, the re-elected Clinton became the first member of the Democratic Party since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term as president. He successfully passed welfare reform and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, providing health coverage for millions of children. Later, he was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice in a scandal involving a White House intern, but was acquitted by the U.S. Senate and served his complete term of office. The Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus between the years 1998 and 2000, the last three years of Clinton's presidency. Clinton left office with the highest end-of-office approval rating of any U.S. president since World War II. Since then, he has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. Based on his philanthropic worldview, Clinton created the William J. Clinton Foundation to promote and address international causes such as prevention of AIDS and global warming. In 2004, he released his autobiography My Life, and was involved in his wife's and then Barack Obama's campaigns for president in 2008. In 2009, he was named United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti, and after the 2010 earthquake he teamed with George W. Bush to form the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Since leaving office, Clinton has been rated highly in public opinion polls of U.S. presidents.

Tourism Indochina: Former US president Bill Clinton Made a Surprise Visit to Cambodia:
(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2006-12-06): SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton made a surprise visit to Cambodias famed Angkor Wat temples, where he impressed tourists by scaling the highest temple in the complex. Clinton, in Cambodia to tour AIDS-related projects and local organizations supported by his foundation, did not speak to reporters but shook hands with tourists. "I am so glad that the former US president came to visit the temples," said Cambodian visitor Pol Khim Pisith, who briefly saw Clinton before security officials pushed him away. "Bill Clintons visit will make our Angkor Wat more and more famous and attract more tourists," he said. Dressed in khaki trousers and a gray shirt, Clinton -- who is 60 and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 -- climbed on the highest temple, surprising tourists who helped him up. "Clinton visiting the temples is a good surprise," Belgian tourist Andre Deceuninck told AFP as he tried to take a picture of the 42nd US president. "I didnt know he was coming to see the temples. I thought it was a joke."

But the heavy security -- from both US Secret Service and Cambodian officials -- frustrated many visitors. "I really wanted to see him but security officials did not allow me to go closer to him," said 78-year-old Buddhist monk Sim Son. The popular former president has already visited India, Thailand, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea as part of his Asian tour as special UN envoy for tsunami recovery and as head of his own Clinton Foundation. Clinton was scheduled to visit a hospital for children in Siem Reap later in the day before travelling to Vietnam.

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