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LOLEI
TRAVEL (CAMBODIA) Office:
N°91, str. 141, Sangkat Beoung Prolit Kh 7 Makara. 12252 Phnom Penh. Mail:
P.O. Box: 1395, 12202 Phnom Penh. Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel./Fax (855 23) 21 00 89, Mobile: (855
12) 80 60 33, E-Mail: [email protected] Newsletter Cambodia, April 2000
PHNOM PENH There’s
Trouble Right Here In
River
City
Phnom Penh Post, 31th
March 00 The
Vice Minister of Tourism is suggesting security arrangements similar to an
airport for passengers boat operators on the Phnom Penh – Siem Reap run
following an armed robbery on March 22. Seven
men boarded a regularly scheduled passenger boat in Phnom Penh, then about an
hour up-river they produced AK-47s and handguns, forced the boat captain to
stop, and then tied up and robbed the passengers, who were mainly foreigners. Vice
Minister Thong Khon said they are discussing security arrangements with the
Public Works and Transportation Ministry. He
said one option was to ensure all luggages was put through an e-ray machine to
check for weapons before allowing passengers on the boat. Khon
made the comments when he issued an apology to the victims of the attack. “I’
am so sorry that this accident happened. We have never had this kind of
incident before, this is the first time. I apologize to all the tourists who
were robbed,” he said. “This
is an important lesson for us to strengthen the safety and security for the
tourists,” he said. Veng
Sereyvuth, Minister of Tourism, also acted quickly to apologize and reassure
tourists that the incident was an isolated one. “On
behalf of my government and the Ministry of Tourism, I would like to extend my
sincere apology for the inconvenience the hijackers caused mentally,
physically and materially to all the passengers and crew members. “So
far, the authorities are investigating. … We are confident that all the
suspects will be caught and brought to justice.” Up
to now three Hijackers – Chom Phal, a former soldier, and Prach Konthol and
Chroeng Siha, students at a private university, have been arrested in separate
locations and police have confiscated about US$ 1,795, 319,400 Riels, 25,350
Baht, 200 Yen, 26,000 Dong, 2 Ringget, UK 400 Pounds, Myanmar 100, 10.20
French Francs, five watches, perfume knives and weapons. Lt.
Col. Sin Sophany, Chief of Investigation for the National Military Police said
that up to March 28 only six victims have come to file complaints against the
robbers. Two were Cambodian and the others foreigners. Additional
from Lolei Travel: Within
today the police has captured fife suspects and 2 two are still at large. PHNOM PENH Fifth
Mekong Tourism Forum
This
Weekend
Cambodia Daily, 4th
April 00 Tourism throughout the Mekong
region will be the topic of a seminar for about 200 tourism officials and
travel industry officials this week at the Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh. The
seminar, which opens with a dinner Thursday night hosted by the Ministry of
Tourism, will discuss the current tourism market and how participants can
effectively market regional attractions. Topics to be discussed at Friday’s
session include improving air transport in the region; how governments and the
travel industry can work together more efficiently; and how regional
destinations can be improved and better marketed. Saturday’s morning session
will offer segments on market trends among travellers from Germany, Japan, the
UK and the US, and how industry officials – both those organizing trips and
those running tourist destinations – can effectively work together. Saturday
afternoon is reserved for tours of Wat Phnom, the Silver Pagoda and the
National Museum, provided by the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents. The
seminar is hosted by the Ministry of Tourism with the cooperation of the
Pacific Asia Travel Association, the Asian Development Bank, and the Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. It is the fifth such forum
focusing on the Mekong region. SIEM REAPTourism Conference Planned At Angkor Wat Cambodia Daily 4th
April 00 Tourism officials from all
over the world are expected to attend a two-day conference later this year at
Angkor Wat, Minister of Tourism Veng Sereyvuth said Monday. The conference, planned for
late October, will discuss the growing world interest in cultural tourism and
what tourism officials must do to capitalize on this trend. Angkor Wat, considered one of
the man-made Seven Wonders of the World and Cambodia’s only Unesco-designated
World heritage site, is ideally situated to become one of the world’s great
destinations, said Veng Sereyvuth. “Cultural tourism is such a
crucial issue,” said Veng Sereyvuth, “The trend is for people travelling
to be much, more aware of the cultural and history of the countries they
visit”. In addition, “there are
1,080 temples in Cambodia,” which can only add to its appeal for culturally
oriented travellers, he said. “We need to be ready.” Veng Sereyvuth proposed
Angkor Wat as a conference site to international tourism officials at a
meeting of the International Tourism Board last month in Berlin, Germany. “They thought it was an
excellent idea,” he said. He expects about 200 tourism officials, travel
industry executives and scholars to attend from as far away as Europe and the
US, although most will likely come from the Asia-Pacific region. Guests will stay in Siem Reap
hotels and tour the temple complexes, in addition to attending seminars,
speeches and discussions on what countries must do to attract cultural
tourists. Veng Sereyvuth said the
government would probably underwrite portions of the conference, such as tours
of the temples or perhaps a dinner, but that participants would shoulder most
of the costs themselves. Additional from Lolei Travel: It is a great idea do organize such a conference. But as Siem Reap has
still a lack of hotel rooms, I am wondering, why they want to do this meeting
right in the high season. Group’s travelling to Siem Reap in this period should make the bookings
(with names) very early! SIEM REAP Open Skies Favour Siem Reap Travel Trade Report, special
issue for the 5th Mekong Tourism Forum in Phnom Penh, 7th
April 2000 Cambodia has cleared the way for more airlines to serve Siem Reap,
according to under secretary of state Nuth Nin Doeurn who opened the 11th
meeting of the Working Group on the Mekong Sub-region tourism Sectors
yesterday. He confirmed the government had approved an open skies policy to expand
direct flights to Siem Reap. Regional airlines were identified as the
priority. Airports and aviation improvements are at the top of tourism’s agenda.
Work is underway to expand the terminal at Phnom Penh’s airport while
approval has been given for an upgrade to Siem Reap runway and back up
facilities to accommodate larger aircrafts. Silk Air has already filed for rights to fly extend its Singapore-Phnom
Penh flight to Siem Reap on the return leg. Other airlines are planning
similar routes that make a stop in the small town, home the fabled Angkor Wat
as an extension of their Phnom Penh services. Bangkok Airways flies three daily services to Siem Reap from Bangkok,
while Vietnam Airlines flies from Ho Chi Minh. Angel Air and Royal Air
Cambodge are planning services. However the under secretary cautioned the 11th Working Group
not to ignore training and conservation related projects. “Already we have on the agenda a plan to promote the region as a single
destination,” he told the 50 delegates attending the working group meetings. “At the same time we must develop training resource managers in
conservation to preserve our natural environment.” PHNOM PENH PG Embarks on Heritage trail linking the Mekong Travel Trade
Report, special issue for the 5th
Mekong Tourism Forum in Phnom Penh, 7th April 2000 Bangkok Airways will create a world heritage route linking the old
cultural and historical cities of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar,
according to Prasert Prasartthong-Osoth, the airline’s president and CEO. Sukhothai Airport has already been upgraded to a customs airport late
last month. The airline is planning to develop the privately owned airport into a hub
linking neighbouring historical cities of Luang Prabang, Siem Reap and Bagan. In its new summer schedule, PG operates three flights per week from
Sukhothai to Siem Reap – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It also plans to open the Sukhothai – Luang Prabang route in November
with three services a week, while negotiating with Myanmar to reopen a route
to Bagan linked to visas on arrival. An inaugural flight to Bagan is planned
for earlier next year. “With this flights, we can create eight- to nine-day packages linking
world heritage sites,” Prasert said. The effort is linked to the “Great Wonder of Sunwannaphum” campaign
launched at the Asean Tourism Forum, last January. Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and
Cambodia agreed to co-promote tourism based products on their common cultural
and historical Buddhist heritage. The proposed itinerary will link Angkor Wat
in Cambodia, Mandalay/Bagan in Myanmar, Luang Prabang in Laos and the Temple
of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace in Thailand. Cambodia was identified as the most promising destination in 2000. “With an open policy, easy immigration procedures and political
stability, Cambodia could double its arrivals compared to the 280,000 visitors
it welcomed by air last year,” said Prasert. PHNOM PENH Mekong Airlines Ready to Align with Major Players Travel Trade
Report, special issue for the 5th Mekong Tourism Forum in Phnom
Penh, 8th April 2000 Survival for the Mekong region airlines depends on how successful they
are at creating partner-ships and links with major airline players. Representatives of the
region’s smaller airlines concluded they needed to create more partnerships
with international airlines if they are to establish sustainable networks. At the close of yesterday’s
afternoon session on airline network plans, panellists agreed co-operation
should not be limited to the region. Cassel Meyers, regional
director of Delta Air said it was vital that smaller regional airlines
established the basic elements of co-operation with international airlines. “We are not talking
scheduling or alliances here, just the basic elements of ticketing and baggage
agreements,” he explained. These agreements are not in
place and they will not be as long as regional players fail to make contact
with the big international airlines. Mr. Meyer, who has lived in
Asia for 20 years, recommended that the new airlines in the Mekong region had
to make contact urgently or fail to tap the long haul market. Delta signed an agreement
with Bangkok Airways and Angel Airlines earlier this year. Royal Air Cambodge
is ready to sign this week. Mr. Meyers list of
“must-do” agreements included the basic ticketing and baggage pact that
allows an international airline to ticket a passenger through to a point in
the Mekong using different airlines. Pro-rated fares would follow. Without
this accord, international airlines will not sell the last flight segment
involving a secondary destination in the Mekong. The sale and ticketing will
end in the major hub – most possibly Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok. “Then you talk about
clearing payments through an electronic clearing house. These are not the
elements of a complicated alliance pact.” he explained. Essentially the
regional airlines have to step out and make contact with the big players. The
international airlines are not going to make the first move.” Yuvadee Sriawasdi, vice
president marketing and sales, Angel Airlines said regional airlines agreed
survival depended on co-operation with long-haul airlines. “But we must first
establish brand awareness and credibility before approaching the long-haul
airline a co-operation.” At present, Angel Airlines is
negotiating with airlines in the Middle East and Europe to establish interline
agreements after a deal was signed with Thai Airways International earlier
this year. “As the second national
domestic airline, we think we have the qualifications to work with global
partners.” She supports regional pacts
as a good place to start. Angel Air already has an interline agreement with
Lao Aviation and Air Mandalay. Air Mandalay’s general
manager Peter Tan confirmed the airline had 12 agreements mainly with
neighbouring airlines. PHNOM PENH Cambodia Banishes Smoking Gun Image Travel Trade Report, special
issue for the 5th Mekong
Tourism Forum in Phnom Penh, 8th April 2000 As a country moving on from
three decades of civil war and political turmoil, Cambodia is banking on
tourism to turn the country’s fortunes and there are big planes in store. Basic infrastructure projects
have been carried out and as tourism minister Veng Sereyvuth has pointed out,
there is still much to be done. But progress is underway and
the country’s image – once at rock bottom – is on the way up. Awareness
of Cambodia as an emerging destination is also critical and the 5th
Mekong Tourism Forum should go a long way to feeling a positive image. It is the major tourism
conference the country has hosted, signalling its emergence in the regional
tourism arena. Commenting on the staging of
the show in Phnom Penh, Pata director marketing – Southeast Asia Andrea Yeo
said “It sits very well with our mission and our objective of assisting our
member destinations. Cambodia is a relatively new member destination for us
and it’s always been our objective to assist in exposure, marketing and the
developmental aspect. All of this I think we have achieved through having the
Mekong Forum in Cambodia for the first time. “We’re very pleased to be
able to provide Cambodia the opportunity to showcase the destination as well
as to bring international expertise and exposure to the country itself.” Tour operators selling the
Mekong region forecast a bright future in tourism for the Indochina countries
and Cambodia could be a star player. Although it might be coming off a small
numbers base, most operators are expecting Cambodia to post the highest
percentage growth in visitors of all the Indochina nations this year and next
– several suggesting rises of 26-28% in arrivals. Already this year, figures
from the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism report handsome increases in arrivals
for January and February over the same months of 1999. The ministry is
forecasting one million arrivals to Cambodia by 2003. New international hotels
under construction and an increase in direct air links are helping to open up
Siem Reap, the centre stage of Cambodia’s tourism plans. But development is
also underway in the capital city Phnom Penh. A reconstruction of Pochentong
Airport is underway with a completion set for 2002-3 (the airport in Siem Reap
is also nearing a mid year completion of its current reconstruction project),
there are plans for an airport in Sihanoukville on the coast. Tourism minister Veng
Sereyvuth wants to establish multiple land, sea and air-gateways to Cambodia,
facilitating easier intra regional travel and travel within Cambodia itself.
This includes more border checkpoints for overland tours linking with Laos and
Thailand. Mr. Sereyvuth himself is the
first to admit the time consuming process of reversing Cambodia’s former war
torn image. “You have to say it is getting better. We are doing what we can
to tell the world Cambodia is safe. I think three to five years from now the
truth will tell. “We can be one of the major
destinations in this region and a major partner in intra regional travel. But
we need the necessary infrastructure and to improve on human resources and
product quality. Having started tourism a little late does not mean we are at
a disadvantage. PHNOM PENHTourism to Angkor Wat Ha Already Doubled Cambodia Daily 18th
April 00 Three months after the
government launched its “open skies” policy allowing direct flights to the
Angkor Wat region, business is booming in Siem Reap. Officials say they expect it
will only get busier. Thong Khon, secretary of
state for the Ministry of Tourism, said the number the number of tourists
visiting Cambodia’s only World Heritage site has doubled, from about 400
people daily to about 800. He said the hotel business is
strong, with the Grand Hotel International doing well and Thai-owned Sofitel
Royal Angkor ready to open in October. The area now offers 1,520
rooms in five hotels and various guest houses, a number expected to double in
the next three years, Thong Khon said. Several other hotel chains
are reportedly studying the area with an eye toward building more hotels. “I
think it is a good idea to do that in Siem Reap,” said Thong Khon. “It is
good for us.” On Dec 1, Prime Minister Hun
Sen ordered an immediate “open skies” policy, allowing direct
international flights to Siem Reap and ending the de facto monopoly by Royal
Air Cambodge and Bangkok Airways. On Jan 17, the first Vietnam
Airlines flight landed in Siem Reap. Since then, a daily flight from Vietnam
has joined five daily flights from Thailand. Tourism officials hope the new
line will carry more than 10,000 visitors in its first year and up to 30,000 a
year eventually. Thong Khon said Shanghai and
Singapore Airlines are also considering direct flights. He said daily visitors
to Angkor Wat could reach 1,000, once the roads to Siem Reap from Poipet and
Phnom Penh are upgraded. Those projects are expected to take at least two
years. The open skies policy drew
fire when it was first proposed, because it means visitors no longer must
travel through Phnom Pen to get to Angkor Wat. A number of Phnom Penh-based
tourist enterprises complained about the loss of business. Industry analysts, however,
say some tourists just won’t be interested in visiting other sites in
Cambodia and that tourism officials should work with Thailand, China, Laos,
Burma and Vietnam to develop multy-country tour packages. PHNOM PENHTourism Figures Up For Both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh Cambodia Daily 24th
April 00 Tourist arrivals jumped
nearly 50 percent in this year’s first quarter as Cambodia basked in
new-found peace and increased flights to the ancient Angkor temples, official
figures released Thursday showed. The numbers put the country
on track to surpass its previous tourism high in 1996 before the industry was
shattered by renewed fighting between the country’s warring factions. A national election and the
end of the Khmer Rouge guerrilla movement have helped boost tourism in
Cambodia and brighten the mood of officials. “We’re very excited, very
happy indeed,” tourism official Sambo Chey said Thursday. “People are
feeling quite safe, we have more hotels…transportation has improved. We have
done a lot to promote the country.” Total arrivals from January
to March were 71,966, a 48 percent increase over figures for the same period
last year, the Tourism Ministry report said. At the rate, tourism could top
300,000 visitors for the entire year. Arrivals from Bangkok to Siem
Reap, near the temples, quadrupled to 18,627 in the first three months of the
year, compared with only 4,475 in the 1999 first quarter. Sambo Chey attributed the
sharp increase to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s new “open skies” policy that
allows several airlines to fly into Siem Reap’s small airport. Before January, only Bangkok
Airways and Royal Air Cambodge were allowed to fly into Siem Reap. The Phnom
Penh hoteliers’ lobby vigorously opposed “open skies” to Siem Reap,
saying they feared tourists would cut the capital from their agenda. However, arrivals to Phnom
Penh’s Pochentong Airport were also sharply up in the first quarter, rising
to 71,966 from 57,680. Visitors from Asia and the
Pacific made up more than half the tourists in January and February. Cambodia is hoping tourism
will help its economy recover from decades of war. Phnom Penh, 25th
April, 2000 Peter Lietz |