Big boost in Angkor revenue

SIEM REAP, 22 June 2017: Ticket sales revenue earned from foreigners visiting Angkor Wat’s archaeological park reached USD45,913,000 during January to May, this year, up 64.13% when compared with the same period last year.

Agence Kampuchea Presse quoted figures released by Angkor Enterprise, the state-owned institution in charge of Angkor income management.

The report also claimed foreign visits to the World Heritage site rose 12.30% to 1,092,377 in the first five months of this year, compared to the same period last year. Read more

Five month figures slow

BANGKOK, 14 June 2017: Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports international visits to Thailand exceeded 14.61 million, a slight increase of 3.20% during January to May, this year.

Released Monday, the ministry’s data showed the country attracted 14,612,150 international visits for the first five months of this year compared to 14,158,649 visits during the same period last year.

The data is based on foreign passports and ID holders, passing through international checkpoints (land, sea and air).  Read more

Scary side of Dalat shopping

LAM DONG, 14 June 2017: Dalat authorities are taking measures to tackle rising cases of shopping scams targeting tourists.

Local media reported statements from the Lam Dong People’s Committee claiming sellers and marketers used violent measures to force drivers, guides and visitors to buy their products.

The committee has asked the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Industry and Trade and local authorities to increase inspections. Read more

Handouts win airline hearts

LUANG PRABANG, 14 June 2017: Airports and national tourist offices in the Greater Mekong Sub-region are playing a pivotal role to attract airlines to fly to secondary airports, according to ForwardKeys director of business development APAC, Jameson Wong.

Faced by bottlenecks at gateway airports, governments and airport authorities are canvassing airlines to fly to secondary destinations.

The strategy has accelerated in the Greater Mekong Sub-region following the ratification of ASEAN Open Skies Agreement. Read more

First robotic cop joins Dubai police

DUBAI, 6 June 2017: After bringing in Lamborghinis and Ferraris to patrol roads, Dubai police have enrolled a robotic officer, the first in a unit that aims to make up a quarter of the force by 2030.

The robotic cop stood to attention Wednesday night at the foot of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, as tourists and passersby snapped selfie souvenir photos by its side.

Wearing a police cap and moving on wheels, the robot features a computer touch-screen on its chest that can be used to report a crime or inquire about speeding tickets. Read more

Call for probe into Goa’s tourist murders

MUMBAI, 1 June 2017: Relatives of 10 foreigners alleged to have been murdered in Goa, including British teenager Scarlett Keeling, have written to India’s prime minister demanding an investigation into what they claim are cover-ups by police.

Minna Pirhonen — the mother of Finnish national Felix Dahl, who was found dead in the tourist state in January 2015 — said Wednesday that the families had couriered a letter to Narendra Modi’s office last week.

In it they demand an “unbiased and independent” probe by India’s Supreme Court, the highest judicial body, into the Goa police’s handling of the 10 deaths that all occurred since 2005. Read more

HCMC to redo street signs

HO CHI MINH CITY, 26 May 2017: Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Transport has asked for approval from the Ministry of Transport to use English on street signs to help tourists find their way around.

Local media reported that the city’s transport department wanted to have all street signs in Vietnamese and English.

Some tour companies suggested it would be more convenient if the signs also had Chinese characters. Read more

Dusit and Dossen in China partnership

BANGKOK, 24 May 2017: Thailand-based Dusit International has entered a partnership with China’s Dossen International Group to operate and develop DusitPrincess resorts and residences in China.

In line with Dusit’s expansion plans for China, Dossen aims to sign at least 40 DusitPrincess properties in major leisure destinations within the next five years. Twenty-seven of these properties are expected to open before 2022, with the rest to follow in subsequent years. To date, Dossen operates more than 1,200 hotels under eight brands in over 200 cities worldwide. Read more

Chinese stay away from Korea

SEOUL, 24 May 2017: Chinese tourist arrivals to South Korea plunged by two-thirds in April after Beijing banned tour groups over Seoul’s deployment of a US missile defence system, official statistics showed.

Beijing imposed a boycott from 15 March on Chinese tour groups visiting the South in a spat over the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

Washington and Seoul say it is purely to defend against threats from nuclear-armed North Korea, but Beijing fears it could undermine its own nuclear deterrent and has reacted with fury, imposing a series of measures seen as economic retaliation. Read more

Russian ferry serves North Korea

MOSCOW, 19 May 2017: The first ever ferry service linking Russia and North Korea was launched, Thursday.

The company operating it said, it hope to serve tourists and North Korean workers.

The ferry will travel weekly between Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok and the North Korean port of Rajin, also called Rason, said Vladimir Baranov, director of InvestStroiTrest, the company that operates the Man Gyong Bong boat that will service the route. Read more

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