Arrivals to Cambodia improve

BANGKOK, 10 November 2011 — International tourists arrivals to Cambodia increased by a substantial 21.2% bringing the nine-month average up to 15.6%.

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.

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China loan funds for Cambodian bridge

PHNOM PENH, 4 November 2011 – Cambodia on Wednesday held a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the 5th Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge, or 2nd Chroy Changvar Bridge, across Tonle Sap to reduce traffic congestion.

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.

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Vietnam top supplier for Angkor Wat

SIEM REAP, 30 September 2011 – Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Department estimates the temple complex, Angkor Wat, attracted 1,048,158 visits, January to August representing an improvement of 24.36% from 842,873 visits over the first eight months of 2010.

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.

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Angkor awash in flood water

PHNOM PENH, 23 September 2011 – Nearly 200 tourists including foreigners were airlifted from Cambodia’s famed Angkor temple complex on Thursday after a road to one of the ruins was cut off by flash floods, officials said.

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. Read more

Cambodia Angkor heads for Seoul

HO Chi Minh City, 16 September 2011 – Cambodia Angkor Air will launch its first medium-haul service to Seoul this December.

Cambodia Angkor Air manager marketing department, Le Chi Quan, told TTR Weekly at the ITE HCMC 2011 travel fair, Thursday, that airline has taken delivery of additional A321 aircraft that will be used to launch the Seoul service and expand the network.

Seoul will be linked to Siem Reap with daily services, a popular destination for Korean visitors, followed by a new Hanoi-Siem Reap service possibly by early January 2012. Read more

Orphan tourism under the hammer

PHNOM PENH, 9 September 2011 – The Cambodian government on Thursday introduced guidelines aiming to better protect orphans and vulnerable children after childcare experts voiced alarm over an unregulated boom in orphanages.

The decision follows media reports that orphanages were being used as tourist attractions and volunteer tourism was causing more damage than good to children’s welfare in the long run.

UNICEF’s Cambodia Representative Richard Bridle said the measures were an important step, but warned that the country needed to “build capacity and resources” to carry them out. Read more

Cambodia’s visitor arrivals expand

BANGKOK, 2 September 2011 – Cambodia’s statistics and tourism information department released its latest tourism statistics report for July showing tourist arrivals growing 18.4% year-on-year with an average 14.1%  increase over the seven-month period last year.

According to the official data, Cambodia received 239,527 international visitors in July representing an increase of 18.4% from 202,349 in July 2010. The accumulated tourists from January to July reached 1,624,556, up 14.1% over the same period last year.

In July, 116,342 or 48.6% of international tourists arrived by air: 24.8% (59,467) via Siem Reap, the country’s prime tourist destination and 23.7% (56,875) through the capital city Phnom Penh. Read more

Angkor packed with neighbours

SIEM REAP, 30 August 2011 – Siem Reap provincial tourism department estimates visit to the temple complex, Angkor Wat, during the first seven months of 2011 reached 907,463 representing an improvement of 23.23% from 736,371 visits during the same period last year.

The department chief, Ngov Sengkak, said on average there were 5,000 international visitors to the temple daily with the main supply markets being Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan.

“Angkor Wat has a strong potential to attract more tourist arrivals from neigbouring countries like Vietnam, which is now playing an important role in Cambodia’s growing tourism industry,” Mr Sengkak said. Read more

Cambodia crack down on charities

PHNOM PENH, 23 August 2011 – The Asian Development Bank on Friday defended two land rights organisations in Cambodia that have been rapped by the government for criticising an ADB-funded railway redevelopment project.

The attacks on the two groups, who monitor the relocation of families living near the railway tracks, come as the government is preparing a controversial law to regulate the activities of campaigners and charity workers.

“ADB views recent developments with the utmost seriousness,” the bank said in a statement after the local Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) charity was slapped with a five-month suspension and international group Bridges Across Borders Cambodia (BABC) was given a government warning over a critical report. Read more

Registration opens for ecotourism mart

BANGKOK, 22 August 2011 — Buyer registration for the International Ecotourism, Nature and Adventure Mart to be held in conjunction with the 3rd World Ecotourism Conference in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, 3 to 5 October, opened last Friday.

Applicants must be involved in ecotourism such as eco-based accommodation, eco-destinations and development, community-based tourism, responsible tourism, eco-certification, green tourism solutions and equipment and sustainable tourism education. Read more

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