Tourism Indochina: Trade, tourism return to normal on Thai and Cambodian border

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2008-10-27):

SA KAEO, Oct 24 (TNA) Cross-border businesses between this eastern Thai border province and Cambodia gradually returned to normal after the Thai and Cambodian military clash at a disputed zone near the ancient Khmer Preah Vihear temple caused fear for their personal safety among both traders and shoppers, a Thai immigration official said here Friday. Pol.Lt-Col.

Jeerachart Romsaiyood, a Thai government immigration inspector at the Aranyaprathet border check point, said the bilateral border trade and tourism business between Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district and Cambodia's neighboring Siem Riep province had returned to normal after the economic slowdown due to the firefight in the Northeastern province of Si Sa Ket. As people of the two countries regained their confidence that the border situation would be settled soon, the atmosphere at Aranyaprathet's Rong Klua Market on Friday was quite vibrant. Thousands of Cambodian traders resumed their businesses at Rong Klua Market while Thai tourist groups again traveled to Cambodia's UNESCO World Heritage Site, the national landmark temples of Angkor.

The trips to visit ancient Angkor Wat and its adjourning historical districts in November for Loy Krathong festival were fully booked, with more than one hundred groups currently on tourism agency books. However, the Thai police chief inspector at Klong Leuk police station said security measures were still tight in the Klong Leuk area of Aranyaprathet district to ensure the safety as the market was fully opened and shoppers were crowding the market.

(TNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Flight between Cambodia Thailand by Bangkok Airway

Tourism Indochina: Flight between Cambodia Thailand by Bangkok Airway

Bangkok Airways Co., Ltd. is a regional airline based in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand.It operates scheduled services to destinations in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos, Maldives, Burma, India and Singapore. Its main base is Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok.

The airline was established in 1968 as Sahakol Air operating air-taxi services under contract from Overseas International Construction Company (OICC) an American construction company, United States Operations Mission (USOM) and a number of other organisations engaged in oil and natural-gas exploration in the Gulf of Thailand. It began scheduled services in 1986, becoming Thailand's first privately-owned domestic airline. It re-branded to become Bangkok Airways in 1989. The airline is owned by Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth (92.31%), Sahakol Estate (4.3%), Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (1.2%) and other shareholders (2.19%). It has 1,903 employees and also wholly owns subsidiary airline Siem Reap Airways.

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2008-12-02):

Bangkok Airways commenced twice daily flights between Hua Hin and Samui during December 1st – 2nd in order to connect passengers going to Singapore or Hong Kong via Samui.

Flights leave Hua Hin at 14.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs for passengers can connect with flights to Singapore leaving at 16.35 hrs and 20.30 hrs. For Hong Kong-bound passengers, flights leave at 22.00 hrs and 11.35 hrs on the next day. From Singapore, there’ll be two flights: 20.10 hrs and 01.30 hrs. From Hong Kong, flights leave at 17.05 hrs and 04.00 hrs. Afterwards, passengers can connect to Hua Hin at 15.30 hrs or 18.30 hrs. A complimentary transfer service will leave four hours prior to each flight departure from Bangkok Airways’ Head Office (99 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road). Additionally, the airline also operates between U-tapao-Siem Reap/ U-tapao-Maldives/ U-tapao-Guilin/ U-tapao-Samui/ and U-tapao-Phuket. We provide check-in and transfer services for all passengers leaving for Singapore and Hong Kong (via Samui) by departing from Hua Hin Airport.

The immigration process will be done at Hua Hin Airport. Please be at our head office at least 04:00 hours before departing time.

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Malaysia Asked Thailand and Cambodia To Resolve Border Conflict Through Talks

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia asked Thailand and Cambodia to resolve through talks their conflict over a remote plot of jungle on their common border where an ancient Hindu temple is situated.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that as partners in the 10-member Asean grouping, they should respect the Asean charter which, among other things, calls for conflict resolution through talks rather than force.

"If allowed to prolong, the conflict can tarnish the image of Asean as a regional organisation," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the launch of the Centre for the Straits of Melaka, here.

Last Wednesday, Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rockets and gunfire across their common border, resulting in reportedly the death of two Cambodian soldiers and injury of seven Thai soldiers.

The Preah Vihear temple, which is at least 900 years old, is a tourist attraction and World Heritage Site which sits atop a mountain.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had awarded the area where the temple stands to Cambodia in a 1962 decision.


BERNAMA


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Thai political violence threatens tourism, economy

Thailand's worst street violence in 16 years has already started to hurt the lucrative tourist industry and will do nothing to help an economy feeling the effects of the global credit crisis, tourism officials and analysts said.

Two people died and over 400 were injured on Tuesday when police clashed with demonstrator’s intent on toppling the government. That ended a period of comparative calm after a short state of emergency in response to previous unrest in September.

"Bookings have recovered since the lifting of the emergency rule. But there have already been some cancellations from Asian travellers since the incident yesterday," said Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

"The impact is unavoidable, but the extent of the damage depends on how the situation ends ...Will it be a happy or a painful ending? Of course, another coup will be bad," he added.

Thailand had a military coup in September 2006. An elected government that took office at the start of this year has been contested in the streets since May.

Apichart said there were no additions to the list of countries that issued travel warnings because of emergency rule.

However, Thai Airways International THAI.BK said on Wednesday that it would cut flights to Asian countries from next week because of a fall in passenger numbers due to the political unrest and the global financial crisis.

Thais have also been less willing to leave home because of the trouble.

"Yesterday's events were real sad," said Maiyarat Pirayakoset, president of the Association of Domestic Travel.

"Domestic travel has recovered to 60 percent of normal since the emergency was lifted. But new bookings after the clashes are a worry, especially because we are in the money-making high season."

Thailand is banking on 600 billion baht ($17.4 billion) in revenue from 15.5 million tourist arrivals this year. The sector directly employs 1.8 million people and brings in the equivalent of 6 percent of gross domestic product.



DOING ALL RIGHT Business seemed to be holding up in Bangkok's Khao San Road, a popular destination over the years for low-budget tourists and not very far from parliament, where Tuesday's clashes occurred.

"It's not as crowded as before. But we're doing all right, we still have new bookings despite some cancellations," said guest house owner Thongchai Nonthaleeluk.

Home to some of Asia's best beaches, Thailand has remained a top tourist draw despite the SARS epidemic, the Indian Ocean tsunami, bird flu and the 2006 coup.

But the long-running protests have hurt, and the appointment of new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat last month has done little to help, despite his initial talk of reconciliation.

"People had hoped things would get better after we had a new premier. But the clash is taking us to the same old political situation," said Aat Pisanwanich, head of international trade studies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. "Nobody knows what will happen and that's hurting confidence and the economy," he said.

Consumer confidence in August was already at its lowest this year.

In September the Chamber of Commerce said the political turmoil, if prolonged for another month, could cost the economy as much as 62 billion baht and might drag growth below 5 percent this year after 4.8 percent in 2007.

Foreign investors have sold a net $3.8 billion of Thai shares this year, and the value of foreign investment applications slid 44 percent in the first eight months compared with a year earlier to 179 billion baht, according to the Board of Investment.


Source:Bangkok Post

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