Cambodia’s Statistics and ICT Department of Ministry of Tourism reported the country welcomed 265,539 international tourists in November, a marginal 6.3% increase compared to 249,702 in November 2010.

March was the only other month with a single digit growth rate of 8.6%.

In November, many of the region’s main supply markets delivered only single-digit growth dampening the month’s performance.

Arrivals from Vietnam, the top supplier increased 5% (48,153) over the same month in 2010 and arrivals from Thailand were down to 9,775 trips and represented a decline of 20.9% compared to November 2010.

The good news for Cambodia was China continued to deliver an impressive increase 32.2% (22,126). Russia supplied a 59.6% surge with 8,568 tourists.

In terms of regions, 68.4% of international tourists came from Asia Pacific, up 7.2% to reach 181,641 trips. Europe’s market share increased to 23.4% (62,015) from 16.4% in October and the Americas rose to 7.8% from 7.3%.

By destinations visited, 148,656 tourists (+8.9%) or 56% visited Siem Reap, while 116,883 (+3%) or 44% visited Phnom Penh and other cities.

A little over half of the tourists, 56.3% (149,415) arrived through two international airports in Phnom Penh (61,005) and Siem Reap (88,410), while 40.4% or 107,173 arrived through overland checkpoints.

Over the 11-months, January to November, Cambodia welcomed 2,583,518 visitors, up 14.4% over the same period last year. The top suppliers were Vietnam (21.9% share) followed by Korea (11.8% share) and China (8.5% share).

Thailand, remains in the top 10 list, although it suffered a 30% decline due to border disputes and a negative political environment earlier in the year plus a flood crisis towards the end of the year.

From January to September, 51% of tourists (1,317,897) arrived by air. Phnom Penh Airport received 582,459, or a 22.5% share. Siem Reap Airport received 735,438 tourists, or a 28.5% share. Meanwhile, 46.1% (1,190,801) arrived through overland checkpoints and a small portion of 74,820 or 2.9% arrived by waterways.

Phnom Penh, the capital and other destinations welcomed 1,145,308 tourists, up 5.5% representing a 44.3% market share. Of the total, 55.7% went to Siem Reap; 1,438,210 trips, up 22.6%.

The Ministry of Tourism also has data on Cambodian outbound tourists. It indicates that from January to November, 639,484 Cambodians travelled overseas increasing 38.7%.

Top 10 countries supplying tourists to Cambodia during November 2011

Top 10 Countries Supplying Tourists to Cambodia during January to November 2011

The country’s annual water festival ended in tragedy in November 2010 when crowds panicked on the narrow crossing leading to Phnom Penh’s Diamond Island, one of the main event sites.

The bridge has since then been used only reluctantly by superstitious locals who thought it brought bad luck.

“The bridge is not necessary anymore since the construction of the twin bridges nearby has finished,” Diamond Island project manager Touch Samnang told AFP, adding that it would take around two months to dismantle the structure.

Carpenter Ung Nget, 27, who survived the stampede, said he would be glad to see the bridge taken down.

“If we keep it here, it only brings back painful memories,” he said.

“I still cry when I see that bridge. If the bridge is no longer there, it can help ease my suffering.”

Last month, local authorities marked the first anniversary of the disaster by unveiling a memorial for the victims at the foot of the crossing.

A government probe found the crush was triggered when rumours rippled through the packed crowd that the eight-metre (26 feet) wide, 100-metre long bridge was unstable. No officials were ever punished over the incident.

The water festival, which marks the reversal of the flow between the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, draws millions of visitors to the capital to enjoy dragon boat races, fireworks and concerts.

© 1994-2011 Agence France-Presse

Thai tourists to Cambodia started to improve after the Yingluck Shinawatra government took office in Thailand. It led to improved relations with Cambodia following months of disputes and border conflicts. However, in October there was still a decline of 18.4%, largely due to floods in Thailand’s central plains. In October, just 10,431 Thais visited Cambodia.

Overall, there were 91,343 Thai visits during the 10-month period, but that was still down 26.4% on the previous year.

In October, Cambodia received 233,190 visitors, up 13.5% over the same month in 2010. Neighbouring Vietnam contributed almost a quarter (23.2% share) or 54,008 tourists, a 26.1% rise in trips.

In terms of regions,  75.7% of international tourists in October came from Asia Pacific, up 15.4% from the same month last year to reach 176,630 trips. Most of the arrivals from this region originated in ASEAN and East Asia and largely from a handful of countries – Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Laos and Australia. Arrivals from South Asia and western Asia and other countries in the Pacific represented just 1.8%.

Europe was the second contributor. The number increased at the beginning of the high season with a market share of 16.4% instead of 12.2% in September. It showed a small 8.8% improvement (38,207).

Tourists from the Americas also increased, accounting for a 7.3% share instead of 5.5% in September. It represented a marginal 3.6% improvement on 17,013 trips. Very few tourists originated from Africa and Middle East, just, 415 and 925 respectively.

In the emerging market category, eastern Europe posted a substantial growth of 43.2% with arrivals from Bulgaria and Romania surging 78.8% and 122.4% respectively. However, only Russia supplied notable volume — 4,805 out of 6,404 arrivals from the region. The country posted a 55.5% growth over October 2010.

By destinations visited, 122,450 tourists or 52.5% visited Siem Reap, while 110,740 or 47.5% visited Phnom Penh and other cities.

Around half of the tourists, 51% (118,822) arrived through two international airports in Phnom Penh (53,459) and Siem Reap (65,363), while 44.6% or 108,501 arrived through overland checkpoints.

Over the 10-month period, January to October, Cambodia welcomed 2,317,979 visitors, up 15.4% over the same period last year. The top supplier was Vietnam (22.3% share) followed by Korea (11.8%) and China (8.6%).

From January to October, 50.4% of tourists (1,168,482) arrived by air. Phnom Penh Airport received 521,454 or a 22.5% share, while Siem Reap Airport received 647,028 tourists, or a 27.9% share. Meanwhile, 46.7% (1,083,628) arrived through overland checkpoints and a small portion of 65,869 or 2.8% arrived by waterways.

Phnom Penh, the capital and other nearby destinations welcomed 1,028,425 tourists, up 5.8% representing a 44.4% market share. Of the total, 55.6% went to Siem Reap, 1,289,554 trips, up 24.4%.

The Ministry of Tourism also releases data on Cambodian outbound tourists. It indicates that from January to October, 573,439 Cambodians travelled overseas increasing 37.4%.

Top 10 International Tourist Arrivals to Cambodia in October

Top 10 International Tourist Arrivals to Cambodia from January to October

Cambodia’s deadliest floods in over a decade, triggered by heavy rains in August and September, killed at least 247 people and destroyed nearly one tenth of the nation’s rice paddies.

“I would like to confirm that although the agricultural sector growth is at zero percent, Cambodia’s economic growth rate will be around seven percent this year,” Hun Sen said during a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh.

He said the economy was boosted by an increase in garment exports and international tourist arrivals and a resurgent construction industry.

The International Monetary Fund last week projected that Cambodia’s economic growth in 2011 would fall slightly below 6% as a result of the floods, down from an earlier forecast of 6.7%.

The global body said it expected Cambodia’s gross domestic product growth to reach 7.25% in 2012.

Written off as a failed state after the devastating 1975 to 1979 Khmer Rouge regime and several decades of civil war, Cambodia has used garment and footwear exports and tourism to help improve its economy.

The country enjoyed several years of double-digit economic growth before being hit hard by the global financial crisis which began in 2007.

But like much of Asia, Cambodia has bounced back and achieved 5.9% growth in 2010, according to Hun Sen.

Cambodia remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with around 30% of its 14 million people living on less than a dollar a day.

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Secretary of State, Sokhom Pheakvoanmony, told the local media that officials from Nanning Survey and Design Institute, a subsidiary of China Railway Siyuan Group, discussed the study with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation earlier this month .

The meeting with the Chinese company director, Zhang Beirui, focused on technical aspects of the study only.

“It will require further talks with the relevant department directors at the ministry before we give the green light for the study,” he said, adding that Nanning Survey and Design Institute would also conduct similar studies in Laos and Vietnam.

The Chinese company wants to survey potential routes in, Kampong Thom and Kratie provinces that would ultimately connect with rail lines in Laos and Vietnam. The study would cost US$5 million and should start next year.

An official at Nanning Survey and Design Institute, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the project with the media, said no formal agreement on a rail project was discussed only details concerning the time-frame and cost of the study.

There have been frequent discussions on developing rail lines between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, but usually the high investment cost snags any attempts to take the projects further.

The lines would be used mainly for freight as there is a very little potential for passenger traffic in Cambodia to sustain a railway.

China’s Ministry’s of Railways has already conducted a study on a 257-kilometre, US$686 million, rail link between Kampong Speu and Kratie provinces, according to a statement from Cambodia’s Ministry of Finance.

Talking to the Phnom Penh Post, Mr Menanteau said the investment would help to boost the overall capacity of Cambodia’s airports – in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville – over 10 years.

He believes traffic to airports, will approximately double every 10 years, reaching 8 million in 2020 from about 4 million today, then reaching 16 million by 2030, he added.

“We see the next 10 years as being very important for the development of these airports.”

Emmanuel Menanteau

Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia requiring a vast investment to provide citizens with basic services such as public health services, education and basic utilities; water supply and electricity outside of the major towns.

Mr Menanteau, who represents a private company that holds the franchise for all three airports, did not explain if the company was prepared to raise capital or secure investment funds for the expansion, or whether he was expecting the government to underwrite the cost.

Phnom Penh’s airport, he said, needs to expand to accommodate up to 4 million passengers by 2015. Today it handles around 2 million passengers a year.

Siem Reap International Airport will need a new terminal next year as passenger traffic climbs to 4 million by 2014, according to Mr Menanteau. Preah Sihanouk International Airport aims to reach the 4 million  mark by 2020, although today it is not served by a single airline.

Cambodia Airports holds the concession for the development and management of Cambodia’s three international airports. The shareholders of Cambodia Airports are France’s group VINCI (70%) and Muhibbah Masteron Cambodia (30%), a Malaysian-Cambodian joint venture.

Phnom Penh airport should be able to handle 10 million passengers a year between 2020 and 2025, but at present accommodates only 2 million. At the same time, Sihanoukville airport’s planned domestic-only operations should eventually grow to include regional flights.

According to Cambodia Airports website, at the end of October Phnom Penh Airport served 1,489,182 passengers including international, domestic and transit traffic with 17,620 aircraft movement. There are 18 airlines operating flights to and from Siem Reap.

Meanwhile, Siem Reap Airport catered to 1,417,179 passengers with 18,724 aircraft movement. There are 12 airlines serving scheduled flights to the airport.

The nation’s Tourism Statistics Report was released by the Department of Statistics and Tourism Information, Ministry of Tourism earlier this week.

Thai tourists to Cambodia continued to increase after the Yingluck Shinawatra administration improved relations with Cambodia following months of disputes and border conflicts.

In September, 13,572 Thais visited Cambodia, a significant increase of 21.2%, but the accumulated arrivals (111,411) over the nine-month period were still in the red by 27.4%.

Overall, in September, Cambodia received 209,804 visitors, up 21.2% from the same month in 2010. Neighbouring Vietnam contributed as much as one-fourth of the 53,854 tourists, a 29.5% rise.

In terms of regions, 81.8% of international tourists came from Asia Pacific, up 22.6% from September last year to reach 171,532 trips. Most of the arrivals from this region originated from ASEAN and East Asia and largely from a handful of countries – Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Australia. Arrivals from South Asia and western Asia and other countries in the Pacific represented just 1.7%.

Europe was the second contributor with a market share of 12.2%. It showed a 17.2% improvement (25,600), while the Americas, accounted for a 5.5% share, growing marginally at 12.3% (11,623).Very few tourists originated from Africa and Middle East, just, 414 and 635 respectively.

In the emerging market catetory, only Russia supplied a notable percentage growth at 128.9% on 3,306 trips. Russia is gradually becoming a significant market in the Mekong Region. It has already emerged as a major market in Thailand, entering the Top five list for western countries.

By destinations visited, 118,872 tourists or 56.7% visited Siem Reap, while 90,932 or 43.3% visited Phnom Penh and other cities.

Little over half of the tourists, 52.6% (110,301) arrived through overland checkpoints, while 45.4% or 95,279 arrived by air through two international airports in Phnom Penh (45,474) and Siem Reap (49,805).

Over the nine-month period, January to September, Cambodia has welcomed 2,084789 visitors, up 15.6% over the same period last year. The Top supplier was Vietnam (22.2% share) followed by Korea (11.9% share) and China (8.5% share).

Thailand, remains in the top 10 supply list, although the market suffered almost a 30% decline due to border disputes and a negative political environment.

From January to September, 50.3% of tourists (1,049,660) arrived by air. Phnom Penh Airport received 467,995 or a 22.4% share, while Siem Reap Airport received 581,665 tourists, or a 27.9% share. Meanwhile, 46.8% (975,127) arrived through overland checkpoints and a small portion of 60,002 or 2.9% arrived by waterways.

Phnom Penh, the capital and other destinations welcomed 917,685 tourists, up 4.9% representing a 44% market share. Of the total, 56% went to Siem Reap, 1,167,104 trips, up 25.7%.

The Ministry of Tourism also has data on Cambodian outbound tourists. It indicates that from January to September, 509,183 Cambodians travelled overseas increasing 38.6%.

Top 10 International Tourist Arrivals to Cambodia in September

Top 10 International Tourist Arrivals to Cambodia from January to September

China’s Xinhua news agency reported the 719-metre bridge would be located in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, connecting the capital Phnom Penh in the west to National Road No 6.

The bridge is  parallel to the existing Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge, or Chroy Changvar Bridge.

According to the master-plan, the construction of the 5th Cambodia-China Friendship Chroy Changvar Bridge is underwritten by a soft loan of US$27.5 million.

The China Road and Bridge Corporation will undertake the construction, which will take 38 months.

The ground-breaking ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue.

Cambodia’s premier said the bridge was  essential to ease traffic on an important highway to Phnom Penh and was part of a wider economic development strategy.

“The bridge connects Phnom Penh to the National Highway 6, which is a strategic road for economic development and a link with the ASEAN highway and Greater Mekong Sub-region highways,” he said.

The other four Cambodia-China Friendship bridges are Se Kong Bridge in Stung Treng province, Prek Kdam Bridge on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Prek Tamak Bridge in Kandal province, and the yet to be opened Takhmao Bridge across Tonle Bassac River in Kandal province.

The department administrative director, Chhoeuy Chhorn, said Asian tourists, particularly from neigbouring Vietnam, lifted the performance dramatically.

“ Vietnam was a largest source market with 188,064 trips in the first eight months increasing 37.5%, followed by South Korea and China that ranked second and third,” Mr Chhorn said.

“Another factor was the increase in direct flights from South Korea and China,” he said. “There were 28 charter flights in August alone.”

The town authorities base their statistics on the entrance fees to Angkor Wat that are US$20 for international visitors per day, US$40 for a three-day visit, and US$60 for a week visit. A company collects the tax and very little of it is ploughed back to improve the livelihood of village communities surrounding the famous temples.

Villagers live in poverty while tourism benefits just a small minority of individuals who secured the franchise through their connections.

The government claims the tourism industry is one of the main industries supporting Cambodia’s economy, but the benefits are garnered by corporations and private companies.

Last year, Siem Reap received 2,508,289 million visits generating US$1.75 billion in revenue, up 16.03% from 2,161,577 visits earning US$1.56 billion. It has golf courses, five-star hotels, and spa resorts, but just a few kilometres from the tourist Mecca, villagers get by without electricity or adequate water supply.

The Angkor archeological park is the Cambodia’s largest cultural tourism destination and a showcase of Khmer architecture, 315 km from the capital Phnom Penh. The temple complex that includes Angkor Wat was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.

Three helicopters rescued visitors stranded at Banteay Srei, one of hundreds of ancient temples at the World Heritage site, after 16 hours of heavy rain inundated the access road, governor of Siem Reap northwestern province said.

“They were all evacuated to a safe place,” Sou Phirin said.

Local district governor Moeung Vuthy told AFP 183 tourists were affected, including nationals from the US, Britain, Germany, China and South Korea.

Large areas of the country have been waterlogged in recent days, with rivers bursting their banks and flooding across towns and thousands of hectares of rice paddies.

Cambodia’s ministry of water resources and meteorology warned on Thursday that a low-pressure system developing over northern Cambodia would bring more heavy floods in coming days.

Angkor is described by UNESCO as “one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia” and contains the ruins of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

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