Tourism Indochina: Foreign arrivals down 30 percent in Bangkok: industry group

Tourism Indochina: Foreign arrivals down 30 percent in Bangkok: industry group

(Tourism Indochina: Date : 2008-09-05):

BANGKOK — Arrivals of foreign tourists in Bangkok are down 30 percent, the Association of Thai Travel Agents said Thursday, blaming the drop on a state of emergency declared three days ago in the capital.

Bangkok's international airport normally receives an average of 8,000 to 10,000 foreign visitors a day, the group's president, Apichart Sankary, told AFP. But arrivals now are 30 percent below average, he said.

"The political turmoil has badly affected the travel and tourism business in Thailand," Apichart said, adding that 13 countries have issued warnings about travel here.

He said the fall-off in arrivals began after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday following bloody clashes between rival activists that left one of Samak's supporters dead.

The decline is already costing Thailand 400 million baht (11.7 million dollars) a day in lost revenue, Apichart said. On an average day, the country earns about 1.5 billion baht from tourism.

"Most of the foreign visitors are tourists who expect to have a good time in Thailand. If the government cannot resolve the problems properly and quickly, we may see a weaker future for the business," he said.

Last weekend anti-government protesters calling for Samak's resignation shuttered three key tourist airports for two days, stranding thousands of travelers. Rail services in southern Thailand have also been disrupted for a week.

Apichart said the closure of the airport in Phuket alone caused losses of about 750 million baht. Tourism generates about six percent of the national economy, and Thailand had expected the industry to earn about 600 billion baht (17.5 billion dollars) this year.

But industry groups fear the ongoing protests could spark even more cancellations, just as the peak tourism season here begins in October.


By AFP

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Tourism Indochina: Cambodia new domestic direct flight route from Siem Reap to SihanoukVille

Tourism Indochina: Cambodia new domestic direct flight route from Siem Reap to SihanoukVille

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2011-10-21):

One new Direct flight in Cambodia from Siem Reap to SihanoukVille Cambodia Angkor Air has a great pleasure to introduce a new flight from Siem Reap to Sihanouk Ville, a coastal area of Kingdom of Cambodia. The flight will be kicked off on 14th December 2011. Booking and reservation is available now. Email to : ticketing@tourismindochina.com

Cambodia Angkor Air is the national flag carrier airline of Cambodia, headquartered in Phnom Penh. It commenced operations on 28 July 2009. The airline is owned by the Cambodian Government (51%) and Vietnam Airlines (49%), the latter allowing for codeshare flights.

Cambodia Angkor Air was founded on 27 July 2009, replacing national airline Royal Air Cambodge, which had gone bankrupt in 2001, concentrating on serving tourist routes within Cambodia, most notably catering for visitors of Angkor Wat.

Destinations

Cambodia Angkor Air serves the following destinations.

* Cambodia:

--> Phnom Penh – Phnom Penh International Airport
--> Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport

* Vietnam:

--> Ho Chi Minh City – Tan Son Nhat International Airport


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Tourism Indochina: Cambodia, environmentally sustainable tourism to save Mekong dolphin

Tourism Indochina: Cambodia, environmentally sustainable tourism to save Mekong dolphin

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2008-09-08):

Over fishing, war, and pollution have decimated the dolphins, and only a few dozen of them are left. Environmentalists have begun a project aimed at contributing to the development of the villages and to saving the dolphins, but their numbers continue to diminish.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Saving the few dozen freshwater dolphins still remaining in the Mekong River, and helping the local population by guaranteeing them a source of livelihood: this is the aim of the "ecotourism" project begun in the border area between Laos and Cambodia by the Cambodia Rural Development Team (CRDT), which has the twofold objective of protecting wildlife and providing an alternative source of income for the inhabitants of the villages.

For centuries, the waters of the Mekong River - which crosses China, Laos, and Cambodia, before reaching the ocean in Vietnam - were the uncontested habitat of thousands of freshwater dolphins. The Sino-Indian War and the increase of industrialization, together with high pollution levels, have decimated the species, only a few dozen of which survive; 71, according to the latest count provided by the World Wildlife Fund.

The village of Sambor, in the north of Cambodia, is one of the places selected by the CRDT as a model of environmentally sustainable development: tourists are given the opportunity to live in contact with the local population, to help the inhabitants protect the natural habitat of the dolphins, and to teach a little English to the children. The most frequently requested activities include well digging, sewer construction, and work in the fields.

The experiment promoted by the activists is intended to save the dolphins from extinction by radically changing the habits of the inhabitants of the village, who for decades have used aggressive fishing methods like explosives and high-capacity nets. Now the freshwater dolphins are seen as a resource to be "exploited" in order to attract foreign capital and tourism; the visitors pay 60 US dollars for three days in contact with nature, and the money is used to support the local population. In a country in which half the population lives on a dollar a day, the inhabitants of the village earn five dollars a day by providing food (two dollars) and lodging (three dollars) for the visitors.

But recent studies have demonstrated that if the benefit for individuals is beyond question, the same cannot be said for the dolphins: in spite of a small increase in their numbers in the initial phase of the project, it is not yet clear whether this is truly effective for preserving the species. Scientists affirm that a new and not yet identified disease is spreading rapidly, killing the offspring. Researchers fear that the new virus - caused by pollution in the water, infested with chemical agents and the runoff from gold mining projects - could soon lead to the total extinction of the dolphins.


Source Asianews

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Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific tourism revenues set to rise by 2010

Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific tourism revenues set to rise by 2010

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2008-09-11):

Tourism revenues in the Asia Pacific region will increase to 4.6 trillion U.S. dollars with visitor arrivals reaching close to 500 million by the end of 2010, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said on Wednesday.

In its newly-published Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts 2008-2010, officially launched here on Wednesday in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the PATA said that despite concerns over a U.S. recession, it predicts a bright future for the region, with China and South Korea set to generate strong outbound growth to Asia Pacific destinations.

Despite regional stock market volatility and uncertainty over local impacts of a possible U.S. recession, the PATA predicts robust average annual growth rates of between 7 percent and 8 percent in the region.

John Koldowski, director of PATA's strategic intelligence center, said that as much as two-thirds of all international arrivals into Asia Pacific are generated from within the region.

He said that Asian markets will inevitably be impacted by a slowdown in the U.S. economy triggered by the credit crunch. However, the medium-term outlook for most Asian economies is very strong with growth rates well above world averages.

As for Singapore's tourism sector, the PATA said in its annual forecasts that with 10.3 million visitor arrivals recorded for 2007 and 12 million forecasts for 2010, the city state is well on track to achieve its goal of 17 million arrivals in 2015.


PATA

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Tourism Indochina: Bangkok Airways offers a new speedy service with web check in

Tourism Indochina: Bangkok Airways offers a new speedy service with web check in

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 : 2008-09-11):

BANGKOK – Recently, Bangkok Airways began “Web Check-In” service for passengers traveling from its key domestic routes. The service enables passengers to easily check-in online and select their preferred seat as early as 24 hours prior departure, by clicking on “Web Check-In” at www.bangkokair.com. Passengers simply bring their printed boarding pass to the designated counter for quick ID verification and baggage check (if needed).

The airline will initially offer Web Check-In service to passengers who fly from Bangkok, Samui and Phuket to other domestic destinations and will apply this service to its other destinations in the near future.


By eTN

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Tourism Indochina: No room at the inn

Tourism Indochina: No room at the inn

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2008-09-12):

The number of high-end hotel rooms serving luxury and business travelers is failing to keep up with strong annual tourism growth, officials say CAMBODIA is facing a shortfall of 3,000 hotel rooms in the face of tourist arrivals growing at an annual rate of up to 20 percent, said a tourism official in Phnom Penh.

"There is a shortage of about 1,500 hotel rooms in Phnom Penh and of about 1,500 rooms in Sihanoukville due to tourist growth and the business boom," said Kousoum Saroeuth, director general for the Ministry of Tourism.

"But the shortage is mainly for high-end hotels."

He added, "We have enough hotels and guesthouses for common tourists, but we need more high-end hotels for luxury tourists and business people."

He said that Cambodia had about 350 hotels with roughly 20,000 rooms, including 140 in Phnom Penh, 100 in Siem Reap, about 50 in Sihanoukville, with the rest in other provinces.

The hotel industry was a major revenue-earner but no figures were available on how much hotels earn every year, Kousoum Saroeuth said.

He noted that two million tourists were visiting Cambodia every year, generating revenues of about US$1.4 billion last year. He added that tourism was responsible for generating about 300,000 jobs.

So Mara, undersecretary of state at the Tourism Ministry, said that even with the shortfall, the industry had grown quickly to meet demand.

"The good side is that this industry is mostly owned by local investors, so revenues are not flowing out of the country," he said. "Tourism has grown about 19 percent year-on-year, so demand for accommodation will grow, too."

But Cambodian Hotel Association President Luu Meng said there was still too little investment in top-end accommodation.

"In this industry, what we need is high-class hotels for high-class guests. Currently, we have a lot of hotels, but only a few are top class," Luu Meng said.

He noted that the hotel industry was responsible for creating about 22,000 jobs in the Kingdom but that the industry carried risks for investors as it was vulnerable to economic downturns and political instability.

Regional hotels have also been affected by high fuel prices and increased airfares, as well as a slowing global economy, he added.

"Security and safety are the major priority for this sector, and road infrastructure comes next," Luu Meng said.

Kousoum Saroeuth said that, in a bid to strengthen the hotel industry, the Tourism Ministry would require hotels to obtain proper classifications or risk having their licences pulled.

The classification ranges from one to five stars, he said. "Since the sub decree on hotel classification took effect in 2003 ... only 15 out of 350 hotels in Cambodia have been classified: 12 in Siem Reap, two in Phnom Penh and one in Sihanoukville."

He said that, since 2003, the Ministry of Tourism has warned hotel owners to apply with the ministry for classifications, but most had ignored the notice.

"As soon as the new government is formed, if hotel owners still ignore having their hotels classified, they will be denied extensions to their operating licences, which they need to apply for every year," he said.

The hotel standards conformed to ASEAN rules, he said, and "will build credibility among foreigners as well as trust that the hotels they are staying in are as good as others in ASEAN. It will also allow hotels to promote themselves and strengthen their service."

He said that the classification procedures were not complicated and would take only three days to complete.


Written by Nguon Sovan

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Tourism Indochina: Festivities mark launch of second Cambodian Open

Tourism Indochina: Festivities mark launch of second Cambodian Open

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2008-09-15):

But rumors abound whether spirit of Jerry Garcia will move Bryan Saltus to defend title DETAILS of the second Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open 2008 golf tournament to be held at the Sofitel Hotel's Phokeethra Country Club golf course in Siem Reap from December 8 to December 14 were unveiled at an extravagant launch earlier this week.

The launch kicked off with a welcome dinner in the Sofitel ballroom on Monday evening, followed by a press conference at Angkor Wat on Tuesday morning, followed by an official lunch, followed by a round of "friendship" golf for supporters, sponsors and the media.

Dignitaries present included Hor Sarun, deputy director of the Ministry of Tourism; So Mara, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Tourism; Bun Tharith, deputy governor of Siem Reap province; and Chau Sun Kerya, director of the Department of Cultural Development Museum and Heritage Norms.

Heavyweights from Thailand included Sofitel Southeast Asia vice president Christophe Caron and Suttiluk Samranyoo, deputy managing director of Thai Nakorn Patana Co Ltd, the Bangkok-based pharmaceutical giant that developed the hotel.

The Cambodian Open is the kingdom's only international golf tournament and is part of a record 2008 Asian Tour schedule of 30 tournaments with almost US$40 million on offer.

Asian Tour is the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia and is a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours, the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia.

The prize purse at this year's Cambodian Open is a handy $300,000, and the format is a 72-holes stroke event played in accordance with the Asian Tour regulations. There will also be a pro-am event on the Wednesday before the tournament, in what is billed as "tournament week".

Asian Tour senior vice president Gerry Norquist was also at the launch and he said that, through the Cambodian Open, "this emerging nation will once again be showcased to the world. As the only professional golf tournament in Cambodia, the Asian Tour will greatly enhance the landscape of professional golf in Cambodia and hopefully unearth new home-grown talents."

While last year's inaugural Open didn't unearth a wealth of local talent, it did launch an American oddity into cult figure status on the Asian golfing circuit, in the guise of Bryan Saltus, a veteran attendee of 150 Grateful Dead concerts which, while in itself has nothing to do with golf, has everything to do with him playing golf. He said he had a "religious experience" at a Dead concert in Las Vegas in 1993 in the form of a dream that he would one day win the US Masters.

On August 9, 1995, Grateful Dead's leader Jerry Garcia died, and Saltus' reaction was to immediately turn pro.

He's been hacking around golf courses ever since, with his awkward style gaining him a modicum of recognition in Golfweek, which wrote, "It's hard not to be amused by his golf swing. Unorthodox hardly begins to describe it."

He surprised everybody, probably including himself, by winning the first Cambodia Open after edging out Australian Adam Groom.

He celebrated his maiden Asian Tour win by jumping into the lake near the 18th green, crediting the unlikely victory to a new putter, after tossing his previous putter into another lake after missing the cut by one shot the week before in Vietnam. And, of course, he dedicated the win to the Grateful Dead.

Can he do it again in Cambodia this year? Will he even appear? The Cambodia Open 2008 press release states he will "undoubtedly be amongst the contenders again." When pressed whether "undoubtedly" means there is doubt about whether he will front, Sofitel clubhouse manager Maximilian Kaendler said Saltus has signed on and would play if there were no preventive misfortunes such as ill health or injuries, Or perhaps a Grateful Dead concert.


Written By Peter Olszewski

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