#Indonesia - Pangandaran Beach is one of West Java's most popular tourist destinations

Pangandaran Beach is one of West Java's most popular tourist destinations.

The puskesmas (community health center) in the popular tourist destination of Pangandaran regency, West Java, has introduced a new English-language service to cater to foreign tourists.

Puskesmas Pangandaran is the only community health center in town.

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Puskesmas Pangandaran head Aris Rismawan recently told tempo.co that the center had launched its new language service after receiving the highest Health Ministry accreditation in early February. 

“We want to be different than the rest,” Aris said of the service, which was called TBC Konci Inggris (able to converse in English). 

Aris said that although the center’s staff were not fully fluent in the language, they could converse well in English.

The English-language service is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while it provides Sundanese and Javanese language services on Wednesdays.

Situated on West Java’s southern coast, Pangandaran is known for its beautiful beaches.

 

Source - TheJakartaPost

Vietnam Airlines to launch new routes to #Cambodian tourist hotspots

Ha Long Bay draws tourists with a magnificent scene of more than 1,500 limestone karst islands popping up from turquoise waters.

 National carrier Vietnam Airlines will launch new routes from Vietnamese tourist destinations to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

The launch follows the recent signing of a three-year (2019-2021) agreement between the carrier and Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism on tourism development cooperation.

Present at the signing ceremony in Phnom Penh were Vietnam Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The carrier said it will launch new routes from Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province and Da Nang City to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

The route between Danang and Siem Reap with 4 flights per week is expected to open this April while the schedule for other routes is yet to be specified.
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 Currently Vietnam Airlines operates 56 flights a week on the Hanoi - Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City - Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh routes.

It will organize events, including conferences, to promote Cambodian tourism at fairs and other venues, the airlines said. Ways to improve the quality of human resources in tourism was also discussed by both parties.

Vietnam Airlines is currently offering free tickets to Cambodian officials and experts traveling for tourism promotion purposes. Outstanding Cambodian tourism students will also have the opportunity to work for the airline.

Other initiatives include marketing and demonstration programs to improve travel and accommodation services in Cambodia.

Duong Tri Thanh, general director of Vietnam Airlines, said: "We are delighted to be the 'air ambassador’ for Cambodia in aviation and tourism."

   Vietnam Airlines has been flying to Cambodia for more than 40 years. In 2018, it carried more than 700,000 passengers between the two countries.

Cambodia Angkor Air, a joint venture between Vietnam Airlines and the Cambodian government, currently operates 56 flights from Siem Reap to Da Nang and from Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville to Ho Chi Minh City.

Source - VN Express 
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#Cambodia - Tourism revenue up 20 percent

The tourism sector earned $4.3 billion in revenue last year, an increase of around 20 percent, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism.

Thong Khon, the Minister of Tourism, revealed the figure at this year’s National Clean City Day, an event held yesterday at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel in which the winners of the ‘green tourism’ and ‘best hospitality’ awards were announced.

The minister also said that last year 6.2 million international travelers visited the Kingdom, a 10.7 percent year-on-year increase.

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 “The sector has been treated by the government as the ‘green gold’ that supports growth and the economy by creating jobs, and reducing poverty,” he added.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, who presided over the event yesterday, called on the private sector, the authorities and the general public to work together to promote the government’s Clean City campaign and ensure its success. He said cleaner and safer cities will lure even more foreign tourists into the country.

According to Minister Khon, Cambodia expects to welcome 6.7 million foreign tourists this year. By 2020, 7 million international travelers will visit the Kingdom every year, generating more than $5 billion in revenue and 1 million jobs, he said.

“To prepare for this increase in tourists, we must have a clear strategy in place for the development of the tourism sector. This strategy must address ways to transform the country into an attractive and comfortable destination through digital technologies and green initiatives,” he said.

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Source - Khmer Times

#Thailand - Music and sea breezes at the Krabi Naga Fest

The Krabi private and public sector in conjunction with the Tourism Authority of Thailand is holding the Krabi Naga Fest 2019 from March 1-3 on Khlong Muang Beach in Mueang District, Krabi.

Under the theme of ‘Breezing Beach & Music’, the event’s three-day programme offers festival goers a wide variety of activities to enjoy including performances by well-known pop-jazz musicians and singers, cultural shows, street shows and a local product fair. Fresh seafood and other local cuisine will be available throughout the event, produced by the area’s four- and five-star hotels and resorts.

The Krabi Naga Fest 2019 takes place from 17.00-24.00 hrs daily and entrance is free.

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Source - TheNation

 

#Cambodia - Kratie to become a priority tourist destination

A beach in the Mekong River in Kratie province

The province of Kratie, in the country’s east, is poised to become a priority tourist destination and a national heritage site.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon on Monday unveiled plans to turn the province’s capital into a “prime tourism destination” and a “heritage city”.

Prime destinations are important attractions but are not as crucial to the tourism sector as the country’s main tourist draws – the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap and the coastal areas.

Minister Khon said the decision to turn Kratie into a priority destination and a heritage site was based on the city’s many tourist attractions, particularly the dolphins that can be spotted in the Mekong River.

“If there are dolphins in the Mekong River, there are tourists; however, no dolphins, no tourists,” Mr Khon said.

Other noteworthy products and sites in the province with great tourism potential include the Koh Trong pomelo, colonial buildings, stunning river beaches, and a slew of eco-tourism sites, the minister said.

He reminded the city’s authorities of their responsibility to boost the quality of these products and sites to meet and exceed tourists’ expectations.

“We must continue improving the quality of services and products in the province and create new tourism products,” he said. “We must work hard to develop Kratie province into a prime destination and a heritage site, organise new events on the beach and in the river, keep the city and the province clean, improve hygiene in public toilets, and protect the environment,” Mr Khon said.

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“Tourism officials must also strive to improve tourist boats so that they offer a quality service, and drivers must wear proper uniforms,” he added.

Mr Khon told Kratie’s provincial tourism department to focus on revamping infrastructure like tourist booths, parking areas, and public toilets while improving services and products at stores, tourist boats, restaurants, and food courts.

Chuk Chumnor, spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism, told Khmer Times that the government also wants to turn Battambang and Kampot into heritage sites. He said the ministry is working with Unesco to register these cities as national heritage sites first, and world heritage sites at a later stage.

“We are also working with Unesco to register Kratie city as a heritage site, together with Battambang and Kampot. These three cities boast beautiful French buildings,” Mr Chumnor said.

“We are committed to strengthening the quality of tourism services and products, social order and security as well as improving eco-tourism sites in the province,” Mr Chumnor said.

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Thoun Sinan, chairman of the Cambodian chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said the priority destination scheme is a strategy that aims to increase opportunities for socioeconomic development through tourism investment and development.

“To develop these priority destinations, the Ministry of Tourism, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and Unesco, has studied and produced the necessary documentation to register these cities as national heritage cities and Unesco world heritage sites.

“Battambang, Kampot, and Kratie could become world heritage sites, which will draw public attention to them and help develop them in a sustainable manner while preserving their urban and natural heritage,” Mr Sinan said.

Last year, Kratie province welcomed about 349,000 visitors, a 15.2 percent year-on-year increase. 25,990 of them were foreigners, mostly French nationals, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Source - Khmer Times

Phu Yen, #Vietnam’s land of the rising sun

 The easternmost province is a top choice for adventures and to enjoy the beauty of nature including some out-of-the-world landscapes.

Phu Yen, located on the south central coast, is the first point on the Vietnamese mainland to welcome the sun every morning.

It has a diverse topography consisting of mountains, rivers, lagoons, bays, and islands and a myriad of beautiful natural sights for visitors to explore.

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Phu Yen’s sunny season is from January to around August, and is perfect for sightseeing. There are also lots of local festivals during these months, so remember to check their dates if you want to see them.

But April and May can be quite hot, so visitors who choose to go during this period should be mindful and take sun-protection gear and water.

From May until the end of July is the peak domestic tourist season, and during this period Phu Yen can get pretty crowded. It might not be an ideal time for those who prefer a quiet and relaxing holiday.

Dai Lanh Cape, around 35km from Tuy Hoa, the capital city of Phu Yen, is the first place in the country where the sun rises. The best spots to catch the sunrise from are up the lighthouse or on Mon Beach, both spectacular places.

Visitors can spend the night at Mui Dien lighthouse, and, when the time comes, take in the view of the bay and the ocean wide open right before their eyes. The feeling when standing on the top, with the wind carrying the smell of the ocean and caressing your skin and hair, and watching the spectacular scene unfold is indescribable.

You need to call up the lighthouse and make arrangements the day before. Tickets cost around VND10,000 ($0.43)

Camping on Mon Beach for the night and waiting for the sunrise can be an unforgettable experience. The beach is located behind Dai Lanh Lighthouse.

Vung Ro spreads over an area of 16.4 square kilometers, with beautiful beaches and the ocean on one side and forested mountains like Deo Ca and Hon Ba, and the highest peak, Da Bia (Tombstone Mountain), on the other.

It is situated in the commune of Hoa Xuan Nam, Dong Hoa District, at the edge of Ca Pass. The drive, whether from the south or north, is extremely scenic. The coastal road offers a magnificent, unbroken view of the bay’s blue waters, fishing villages, the craggy pass, the green mountains, and the white sandy beaches.

There are hundreds of floating homes, fish farms and wooden fishing boats in the main bay. From here, visitors can take a boat to visit seafood farms, try to be a fisherman for a day and learn how locals catch lobsters or go catching fish or squid.

The seafood at the floating restaurants here are obviously as fresh as it possibly can be as it goes straight to the kitchen from the floating farms around. Some beers while floating on the blue lagoon, and this becomes an experience one just should not miss.

There are also other recreation options such as jet-skiing, snorkeling and visiting historical relics for visitors.

 Vung Ro Bay has 12  beautiful, pristine beaches such as Lach, Mu U, Chua, Chan Trau which are perfect for a refreshing dip in the cool, clear water or just unwinding in a tranquil, quiet place on the white sand.

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#Cambodia declared the cheapest country to retire

International Living, a magazine that focuses on the best places to live and invest, named Cambodia the cheapest place to retire in 2019.

The Kingdom came first this year in the cost of living category in the publication’s Annual Global Retirement Index.

Earning full marks in the category, the ranking highlights the Kingdom’s attractiveness for retirees and expatriates in general.

This is the fourth year in a row that Cambodia has topped the list in the cost of living category. It was followed by neighbours Vietnam and Thailand, who came in second and third, respectively.

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“Centrally located in the beating heart of Southeast Asia it is a country undergoing a renaissance thanks to 15 years boom in economic growth and tourism centred on the world-renowned temples of Angkor Wat,” International Living said.

“When folks dream of visiting Cambodia they are initially more likely influenced by the exotic draw of these ancient temples, royal palaces, and saffron-robed monks or the beautiful beaches and undeveloped islands on the southern coast than anything else.

“But the cost of living leaves them astonished. Known as the ‘Kingdom of Wonder’, Cambodia is a place where retirees can upgrade their lifestyle to one of luxury on a modest budget,” it added.

The low cost of living lets expats in Cambodia live richly on a poor man’s budget, International Living said, highlighting the possibility of buying a bottle of Champagne for just $25 or playing golf with caddie for $65 a day at a country club.

Cambodia also scored high in the overall ranking for best places to retire in the world. It landed on the 12th position, one spot above Italy and one below France. It scored 80 out of 100 points in the ‘visa and residence’ and ‘healthcare’ categories, and 73 in ‘climate’.

Thoun Sinan, chairman of the Cambodia chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said International Living’s ranking will help promote the Kingdom abroad and lure more retirees and investors.

“This is great news. It won’t just attract more tourists but it will also bring more investment into the construction sector to build more facilities for these tourists,” he said.

According to Mr Sinan, most retired tourist that choose to visit the Kingdom are European.

In 2016, the government released a three-year multiple-entry visa targeting retirees and other long-stay travellers and investors.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia welcomed 6.2 million international visitors last year, up 11 percent from 5.6 million in 2017.

Source - Khmer Times