Khiri in the Cardamons

Khiri Travel has launched small group tours to Cambodia’s Cardamom mountains, considered one of the largest tropical forests in Southeast Asia.

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Slender travel margin for Cambodia

Cambodia’s travel agents association expects tourist arrivals, this year, to grow by just 0.3 to 0.5%, way off earlier forecasts.

Cambodia Association of Travel Agent president, Vandy Ho, told TTR Weekly, arrivals in the first seven months stood at 1.7 million, which represented a 0.3% growth, when compared to the same period last year.

Mr Vandy added that forward bookings from October  to March, especially in the key destination such as Siem Reap, were showing signs of improvement.  But he estimated a growth rate of just 0.3 or up to 0.5%, well below the 5.48% achieved last year.

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Fund for roads in Mekong region

Asian Development Bank and the Republic of Korea are supporting road and border improvements in Cambodia to increase economic opportunities and boost trade and tourism in the Mekong region.

The bank’s board of directors approved a US$16.3 million loan for the project, which will upgrade 113 km of the national highway (NR56) from Sisophon, the capital of Banteay Meanchey province to Samraong in Oddar Meanchey – the northwest of the country. The funds will also be used to upgrade a cross-border post with Thailand at O’Smach.

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea is also extending a loan equivalent to US$25.6 million through its Economic Development and Cooperation Fund.

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Cambodia Angkor takes off today

Cambodia’s new national airline, Cambodia Angkor Air, code name K6, officially commences services today.

Initially, the carrier will concentrate on domestic flights between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh as well as regional services between Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Until 31 August, Cambodia Angkor Air will operate 32 flights, a week, using ATR72s.

It also operates a daily flight on the Phnom Penh- Ho Chi Minh City route and another daily flight from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, both using ATR72s. There are plans to fly to Sihanoukville. Well down line, there is also a plan to fly to both Singapore and Bangkok, once it acquires a suitable jet aircraft.

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Cambodia bullish about tourism prospects

Cambodia looks for a steady 10% annual increase in visitors.

Cambodia aims to achieve a 10% increase in international arrivals and plans to expand its tourism appeal by opening up village and community based attractions.

Ministry of Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department, International Promotion Official, Prak Vuthy, said despite negative external factors, tourism in Cambodia continued at a smooth pace. Read more

Cambodia adds facilities

Government says it will build a convention hall and a butterfly centre will open near Siem Rea.

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia will build an international standard conference hall in Phnom Penh, mainly to serve the diplomatic events.

The conference hall will be constructed with government funds on a site next to the new Council of Ministers building. Read more

Cambodia’s arrivals take a hit

Arrivals in the first month of January drop by 2.19% as travel from top producing market nose dives.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reported 218,691 arrivals, in January 2009, a decrease of 2.19%, on 223,581 arrivals in January 2008.

The first signs of decline were recorded last October, leading to a decline of 5% during the last quarter — 577,536 arrivals compared with 607,964 in quarter four of 2007. Read more

Tourism workshop in Cambodia

Human resources on the agenda of Mekong tourism office’s latest workshop.

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office will organise a Human Resource Development workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 12 – 13 February.

The Human Resource Development workshop is the first of a series of four workshops, which MTCO has been organising since September last year. Other workshops were Biodiversity Conservations, Economic Corridor Development and Pro-Poor Tourism. Read more

Cambodia’s October arrivals

Visitor arrivals to Cambodia dropped by 2.19%.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reported visitors arrivals in October stood at 156,718, or a 2.19% drop when compared with 160,235 arrivals in the same month in 2007. However, the 10-month figures still showed an 8.5% growth.

The official report shows that the arrivals started to decline for the first time in October. Six major markets, out from its top 10 were down. They were: Korea; Japan; US; China; Thailand and France. Read more

Siem Reap Airways suspends all flights

Bangkok Airways takes over domestic trunk route but the ban leaves questions over the EU’s capability to sift fact from fiction.

Siem Reap Airways has suspended all flights, both domestic and to neighbouring countries, virtually ending its role as the sole scheduled airline in Cambodia.

For the time being Bangkok Airways is operating services between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap the main domestic route in the country. Read more

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