Clinton surprises tourists at Cambodian temples

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.


Source: Yahoo: Asia News

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Explore Mekong Discovery Trail: The northeastern River Life in Cambodia

It would not be at the end of traveling in Cambodia if you miss to explore Mekong Discovery Trial and experience the northeastern life of Cambodia where diverse natural beauty and warm-hearting greetings of the people create a remembrance experience. Mekong discovery trial will bring to explore the river life adventure along an extensive Mekong in Kratie and Stung Treng Province of Kingdom of Wonder.

Mekong discovery trail aims to mitigate and promote dolphin conservation through sustainable tourism and to diversify tourism product in response to an increasing demand for ecotourism. A wide range of touristic activities can be enjoyed along the trail such as Mekong River Dolphin Viewing, horse cart, mountain biking, house boating, local product, fishing, camping, and forest trekking which are the foremost interested activities for the ecotourism visitors, nature lovers and nature-based visitors.

Along the Mekong trial local people can provide you diversified experiences with their local product and their hospitality mood. Also, you have chance to see a critical endangered Mekong River Dolphin whist optimize impact on the environment they depend on. By using this trail and allow yourself to economically contribute to the local people will help the river communities with the positive change of local livelihood.

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Responsible Tourism in Cambodia to be commenced soon

The Responsible Travel Cambodia Program will launch in October 2010. This is a new business approach that requires design and implementation with clear motivation and commitment toward managing and developing of responsible tourism services in Cambodia.

This initiative is created and promoted by collaboration between SNV in Cambodia and The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) with the purpose for business solution that positively contributes to poverty alleviation and praises local livelihood. The GOAL of Responsible Tourism Program is “to provide new, modern solutions for challenging facing tourism business today, including increased competitiveness in the rapid changing global tourism industry,” according to SNV Cambodia.

Strategic approach, advices will be provided to enable tour operators to profit from the practical responsible business management and to make good collaboration for positive changes in tourism sector in Cambodian as well as to appropriately respond to a emerging market trend in global tourism.

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The most popular beach in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia

Sihanouk Ville is known as the most spectacular destination for beach in Cambodia that you can make many creational activities for pleasure. With the white and long beach extended, Ochheuteal is commonly recognized as the largest and the most popular beach, where you can relax with fresh atmosphere and beautiful scenery. When twilight arrives, you can arrange dinner and BBQ grills with wide variety of seafood such as shrimp, crab, tuna, lobster and squid over there. Dining on the edge of paradise gateway is the most enjoyable activities that most visitors visualize before going there.

With many restaurant and pub lied along the beach, you can sip drinks made of tropical fruit and partake local beer while listening to the cool music designed and displayed just for your romantic and memorable feeling. Lately at night, you can come up with dancing with local night bars on the beach and extend you smile until the sun arises then the time for viewing sunrise.

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The Asian Tourism Forum 2011 to be held in Cambodia

The 30th ASEAN Tourism Forum is the upcoming tourism even in Southeast Asia countries- let The Ministry of Tourism of Kingdom of Cambodia to be the host committee of this tourism forum. The upcoming event is going to be held at the newly built Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center, Phnom Penh, a heart of commercial and political alert bell of the kingdom of Cambodia, from 15 to 21 January, 2011 under the theme of “ASEAN- A World of Wonder and Diversity.”

Cambodia, on behalf of host country, would proudly and greatly appreciate to extend its pleasure and honor to all relevant participants in the land of tropical weather with its home of world heritage and archeological sites- Siem Reap- and pristine and beautiful white beach- Sihanouk Ville, where both have been selected as most popular of tourism destinations for post-and-pre tours.

It is merely a great pressure for Cambodia to be once again a host Country since its first warmly welcoming in 2003. Again, Cambodia are glad to heatedly greet all distinguished delegate and guests to Asian Tourism Forum 2011 to Cambodia with the graciousness of hospitality and wishes you the great memorable pleasure and satisfied stay in Cambodia- Kingdom of wonder.

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Vietnam on sale to lure tourist

A two month campaign to reduce prices during the low season has been launched in the major cities of Vietnam in an effort to draw tourists to the country.

A number of shops, hotels, restaurants and transportation firms in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have signed up to 'The Grand Sale' and agreed to reduce their prices by ten to 40 per cent during August and September, reported the Vietnam News.

"This is a good campaign," Hanoitourist director Luu Duc Ke told the news agency.

"Our company will co-ordinate with transport companies and hotels to provide discounts of 10 to 30 per cent."

Upon the presentation of their passport, tourists will receive a Tourist Privilege Card or shopping coupons for participating merchants.

As part of the larger 'Vietnam: Your Destination 2010' campaign, The Grand Sale is hoped to bring in increased revenue from tourist spending.

The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) with the Trade Promotion Department, the Ministry of Industry and Vietnam Airlines introduced the campaign following the success of similar programmes in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

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Airlines lose $1.7 billion from volcanic ash

Airlines lost more than $1.7 billion in revenue during the six days after the initial eruption of the Icelandic volcano, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated on Wednesday.

During the three-day period from 17-19 April, when disruptions were greatest, the lost revenues reached $400 million per day.

"At the worst, the crisis impacted 29% of global aviation and affected 1.2 million passengers a day" said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO.

"For an industry that lost $9.4 billion last year and was forecast to lose a further $2.8 billion in 2010, this crisis is devastating.

"It is hitting hardest where the carriers are in the most difficult financial situation. Europe's carriers were already expected to lose $2.2 billion this year—the largest in the industry,"

IATA is now urging airports and governments to help mitigate the financial impact on airlines.

"London Heathrow and Dubai are waiving parking fees and not charging for repositioning flights. Others airports must follow" said Bisignani.

He also requested that airports relax their rules on take-off and landing slot allocation and governments to relax bans on night flights to get passengers home as soon as possible.

The EU was also urged to ease its passenger care regulations, IATA saying it was "unfair" that airlines were held responsible to pay for hotels, meals and telephones for stranded passengers when the volcanic crisis was "completely beyond the control of airlines."

Governments were also asked to help carriers recover the cost of the disruption.

"I am the first one to say that this industry does not want or need bailouts. But this crisis is not the result of running our business badly.

"It is an extra-ordinary situation exaggerated with a poor decision-making process by national governments. The airlines could not do business normally."

Source: ETB

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