Thailand’s Kantharalak district to reopen Preah Vihear temple

 

The district of Kantharalak in Sisaket, Thailand, is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to reopen access to the Preah Vihear temple after 16 years. The decision to establish a temporary checkpoint for entry into the Cambodian temple followed Interior Minister recent visit to the province. The move has sparked excitement among the locals, who view it as a significant step towards boosting tourism and trade between Thailand and Cambodia.

Anupong Suksomnit, Governor of Sisaket, confirmed that the checkpoint would provide passage for tourists and locals from both countries. This move comes after a 16-year closure due to a territorial dispute between the two countries in 2008, which revolved around the area surrounding the ancient site.

To display their readiness for this development, local authorities arranged a media tour across different sectors in Sisaket. The enthusiasm was palpable as everyone was eager to get things moving.

Authorities in Sisaket have rallied a task force to gear up for the border’s reopening, said Jit Ardsanjorn, the chief of the Khao Phra Viharn National Park. All sectors are ready and simply waiting for the government’s go-ahead.

She further revealed that the region’s tourist attractions are prepared to receive visitors. New hotels and resorts have sprung up in Kantharalak to host incoming tourists, while local shops and facilities have undergone renovation.

Jit is optimistic that the checkpoint’s opening will significantly increase tourism numbers. She predicted a surge from the current 170,000 tourists per year to approximately 700,000, mirroring past figures, reported Bangkok Post.

The push for the checkpoint’s opening has been a focal point for the Interior Ministry under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s government, aiming to stimulate the tourism sector. This move was further solidified by a meeting between Prime Minister Srettha and the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on February 7 to discuss the matter.

Source: The Thaiger

Cambodia to re-open to international travellers

Foreign tourists will soon roam Cambodia's ancient Angkor Wat temples once again, after officials on Tuesday flagged a partial reopening to vaccinated travellers.

The coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions put the brakes on Cambodia's burgeoning tourism industry -- revenue plummeted to $1 billion last year, down from nearly $5 billion in 2019 when the country attracted 6.6 million visitors.

The Cambodian Tourism Ministry on Tuesday announced a Nov 30 reopening for popular beach spots Sihanoukville and the island of Koh Rong, as well as Dara Sakor -- a Chinese-developed resort zone.

The northern city of Siem Reap -- gateway to the world heritage-listed Angkor Wat complex -- will be added to the kingdom's hotel quarantine-free travel scheme in January.

More than 2 million visitors wandered the archaeological park in 2019, but the world-famous attraction has been mostly deserted since the pandemic took hold.

Foreign travellers will require certificates showing they have been double-vaccinated, health insurance covering treatment for Covid-19, and negative swab tests prior to departure and upon arrival in the country, the tourism ministry said.

Tourists must remain for a minimum of five days at the pilot locations and undergo a further swab test before being allowed to explore other parts of Cambodia.

The kingdom was spared the worst of the pandemic in 2020 but has registered the lion's share of its 118,000 infections since April.

The Southeast Asian country won praise for its swift vaccination programme -- 96% of the adult population is fully jabbed.

Cambodia's tourism reboot has taken some inspiration from neighbouring Thailand's "Phuket sandbox" hotel quarantine-free travel scheme which kicked off in July, attracting more than 56,000 international arrivals to the island.

Source - Bangkok Post

VISA AGENT  /  THAI PASS

WHO backs reopenings: Cambodia rep says new normal possible if adopted safely

 

WHO in Cambodia has requested the Ministry of Health to consider reopening all sectors, especially businesses in the Kingdom, after observing a sustainable and well-managed response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

World Health Organization Representative to Cambodia Dr Li Ailan told Khmer Times yesterday that Safe & Sustainable reopening is possible, if well managed.

“We need to apply a good risk management approach in all the sectors, especially the business sector for business reopening. Individuals need to make right choices on Covid-19 measures. Implementation & Monitoring are key,” Dr Ailan said.

“We have indeed learned some lessons to realize the  safe-reopening ambition,” she added.

She cautioned however, that if reopening is rushed without good planning and risk management in place, cases will surge, hospitals are highly likely to become overwhelmed and businesses may close again.

“I think that it is the right time to consider reopening the economy and our society safely and responsibly. The current Covid-19 response strategies need to be adjusted towards the New Normal and relevant policies must support all sectors to invest in balanced, risk-based public health and social measures,” she said.

Dr Ailan added that it is crucial to have functional monitoring of implementation and compliance. Policies should support the health sector to shift toward less intensive, more sustainable Covid-19 operations and improving health care and public health surveillance systems for early detection and rapid response to any future outbreaks.

She noted that the virus, especially the Delta variant, is circulating in the community and can still cause a surge in Covid-19 cases to overwhelm health care, even if the vaccination coverage is high, if reopening of businesses is not well managed.

Dr Ailan said WHO advises and encourages the application of a risk-based approach in reopening all the sectors as well as to shift mindsets and efforts in “learning, adjusting and sustaining” to a new way of working and living.

She also said that Cambodia’s high vaccination coverage provides a good basis for reopening the economy and society safely and responsibly. However, vaccination alone is not enough.

“We are working to provide our policy advice and technical support in moving towards “living with Covid-19” as an endemic disease in the future,” she said.

“We need a good combination of “vaccination”, “public health & social measures (PHSM)” and “health care capacity,” she said. “As we move forward in this situation of higher vaccination coverage, we will have to test our new ways of living. We must try, learn, adjust, and sustain new measures and behavior.”

She said each sector can open safely and responsibly with balanced, risk-based policies on public health and social measures that incorporate guidance from the health sector, monitoring of implementation and compliance with the measures, and engagement and communication with the members of the sector.

Investments in these measures are investments in the lives and livelihoods of the people of that sector, Dr Ailan noted.

Regarding recent irresponsible behavior by some holidaymakers during Pchum Ben, she said communities should also play a part by adopting measures that reduce disease spread.

“I regret that there are some who were not taking this responsibility seriously. We have seen images in some places and social media of crowding and maskless gatherings. These are the kinds of situations that can send Cambodia over the Red Line and back into prolonged social disruptions,” Dr Ailan said.

“We should not revert the progress made so far in Cambodia.  WHO is grateful to those who are working hard and who are monitoring the situation during their holidays? We thank the local authorities for taking some quick action to prevent a tragedy. This kind of monitoring and quick response, not waiting for cases to occur, is exactly the kind of try, learn, adjust, and sustain approach that Cambodia needs,” she added.

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine said yesterday that she is hoping to get out from the Covid-19 box as soon as possible, if people continue to practice the  3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts correctly and regularly.

“Learning to carefully exercise necessary preventive measures allows us to live with a new normal when reopening businesses safely,” Vandine said.

On Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that Cambodia will be capable of  reopening its economy across all sectors if the Covid-19 situation post Pchum Ben remains stable at current levels for at least 10 consecutive days.

“If the situation remains as it is for the next 10 to 15 days, then I think it is time to reopen the economy, and society, across all sectors under the new normal concept,” Mr Hun Sen said.

In another development, Hem Sinareth, the capital’s director of the Department of Education, said on Saturday evening that from October 8 to October 9, 6,000 teachers were tested for Covid-19 and 11 were found positive.

He said the remaining 1,000 teachers in the capital will be tested today.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health yesterday reported 239 new cases of Covid-19 using PCR testing, bringing the total number in the country to 107,857. Of the new cases, 25 are imported and the rest are linked to the February 20 Community Event.

The ministry also announced 24 new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 2,506.

At the same time, it also recorded 481 new recoveries, bringing the total number to 107,857.

Source - Khmer Post

Our VISA AGENT

Phu Quoc will be #Vietnam’s ‘test’ island as it re-opens to foreign tourists

Vietnam’s Phu Quoc, the tourist island off the coast of Cambodia in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, is going to start allowing foreign arrivals on a trial basis as part of Vietnam’s roadmap to re-opening to international tourism. As an island the trial will be a more controlled rehearsal for wider re-openings to tourists around Vietnam in the future.

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy says his ministry has been working on a pilot plan to attract international tourists to select islands, Phu Quoc among those considered.

“Tougher measures should be taken to prevent another outbreak of Covid-19.”

Vietnam mostly dodged the Covid-19 bullet with only 26 cases patients still undergoing treatment and has managed to avoid deaths. In total the country has had only 329 reported cases of Covid-19 in a country of 97 million. There has been no community transmission in the last 49 days.

The ministry has assigned the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam Tourism Association to start promoting the island, off southern Vietnam’s Mekong delta, to international tourists.

“There are people living there and domestic tourists visit them, and so the risks of community transmission must be taken into account while allowing international visitors back.”

“We are working with the Health Ministry to develop a set of criteria to ensure safety for international visitors. The tourism industry only wants to receive visitors from countries where the disease has been controlled.”

The tourism ministry is consulting with other ministries on air routes, visa issuance and lifting of travel restrictions for tourists from several countries and regions that have managed to control the pandemic, including Thailand.

The ministry looks to kick-start international tourism by reopening its doors to visitors from some select markets where the Covid-19 pandemic has been controlled – Japan, South Korea and China, Thailand, Australia and New Zealander are some of the countries under consideration for early re-entry back onto Vietnam islands.

Phu Quoc, dubbed ‘pearl island’, has become a popular tourist destination after it built an international airport in 2012 and the government instigated a 30 day visa-free policy for foreigners 6 years ago. Over the past year there were flights from Thailand with Bangkok Airways (out of Bangkok) and via Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia.

The island received over five million visitors last year, up 30% from 2018, including 541,600 foreigners. The country, like most of south east Asia, currently has a ban on scheduled international commercial aviation.
.

.

Source - The Thaiger

#Cambodia’s lifting of entry ban will have minimal impact on tourism or economy

Cambodia lifted a ban on entry of visitors from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the United States that had been put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, the health ministry a week ago and the immediate result of this is the detection of two COVID-19 positive patients.

The cross signals sent by the Ministry of Health is doing Cambodia no favours as on one hand, Cambodia announced very early on that it would provide free medical treatment for COVID-19 positive victims despite their nationalities.

Thus, the imposition of a $50,000 insurance policy, mandatory upon entry into Cambodia further complicates normalization of inbound passengers into Cambodia.

Despite the easing, foreign visitors would still need to have a certificate no more than 72 hours old confirming that they are not infected with the novel coronavirus and proof of $50,000 worth of health insurance while in Cambodia, the ministry said.

They also would be quarantined for 14 days after arrival at government designate place and tested for the coronavirus, a ministry statement said, but did not specify where.

Airline executives, welcoming the abolishment of minimum tax until July said the tax relief was welcome but too little, too short a period of time and too late as they have been hit severely since the outbreak started peaking in March and when most countries imposed lock downs and flight restrictions.

“The direct result of the extraneous conditions imposed by Cambodia in her attempt to curb the spread of imported cases of the virus is tourism dropping to almost zero and all Asean carriers suspending flights, partly because of the pandemic and partly because of their own severity with the pandemic.

“Cambodia should move to revive air travel and impose less restrictive measures and instead adopt measures to boost air travel. Local businesses, especially hospitality and services sectors are hit severely and since other countries in the region are opening up their economic activities, Cambodia should follow suit and not get left behind,” the executives, fearing reprisal said, declining to be identified.

Asean, they said, should come to a collective decision to open up the skies and air travel and adequate measures should be in place prior to this happening.

“If Asean cannot get its act together, how are they going to tackle the economic crisis looming? Thailand imposes $100,000 insurance requirements, extends emergency but relaxes conditions while Cambodia is sending mixed signals.

“Flights are necessary to stimulate growth one way or another and measures must be adopted to facilitate this, not inhibit as relaxing flight restrictions from the six countries is futile since they still have huge number of cases while Asean with lesser cases have got no ban but no flights as well,” they said.

UNWTO has forecasted a decline in international tourism receipts of between $910 to $1,170 billion in 2020, compared to the $1.5 trillion generated in 2019, with 96% of worldwide destinations having travel restrictions.

IATA has estimated that Cambodia faces a possible direct and indirect job loss of more than 700,000 while in Asia-Pacific as a whole 11.2 million jobs are at risk, including those that are dependent on the aviation industry, such as travel and tourism.

“Providing support for airlines has a broader economic implication. Jobs across many sectors will be impacted if airlines do not survive the COVID-19 crisis. Every airline job supports another 24 in the travel and tourism value chain,” says Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific.

Source - Khmer Times

Cambodia expects Chinese tourists to drive its tourism growth after COVID-19 outbreak

Cambodia is hoping that Chinese tourists will drive its tourism growth when the world is cleared of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said on Saturday.

Khon said the COVID-19 pandemic had made profound impact on the country's tourism. However, he was optimistic that Chinese tourists would support the kingdom's tourism growth when the coronavirus is over.

The minister said mutual help and trust between the two countries in the fight against COVID-19 has not only deepened bilateral ties, but also earned praise from the two countries.

"The visit of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen to Beijing in February during the virus outbreak has received lavish praise from the Chinese people, and through this visit, I believe that more Chinese people will spend their holidays in Cambodia when the COVID-19 crisis is over," Khon told Xinhua.

China has become the largest source of foreign tourists to Cambodia since 2017. Cambodia's tourism industry, which amounted to 4.92 billion US dollars, is currently being hit hardest by the ravaging pandemic. A tourism data showed that Cambodia received a total of 223,400 foreign tourists in March, a decrease of 65 percent over the same month last year.

Air passenger numbers dropped by more than 90 percent in April, according to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, while ticket sales at Cambodia's world famous Angkor archeological park fell by 99 percent in April.

Secretary of state and spokesman of the Tourism Ministry Top Sopheak said, "Before COVID-19, the Angkor archeological park in Siem Reap province received up to 9,000 foreign tourists a day, but now, it gets only 20 per day and those are foreigners living and working in Cambodia."

To be ready to receive Chinese tourists during the post-COVID-19 era, Cambodia will continue to promote the "China Ready" strategy and urge tourism businesses and other tourism destinations to further implement health and safety measures for all tourists, he said.

Cambodia has banned entry of foreign visitors from six countries - the United States, Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and Iran - since mid-March and has imposed entry restrictions for all foreigners since March 30 to curb COVID-19.

Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), said all tour and travel companies across the kingdom have suspended their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting more than 30,000 employees.

"Although Cambodia has detected no new COVID-19 cases for over one month, there are still only a few foreign tourists coming to the country because they're still scared of the virus and our travel restrictions remain in effect," she told Xinhua.

Sivlin agreed that Chinese tourists will be the main driver of tourism growth in Cambodia after the pandemic, and tour and travel companies will unveil new tour packages to attract Chinese tourists when the pneumonia-causing virus is over.

"We will design our strategy again to attract tourists during the post-COVID-19 era, and the strategy will focus on hygiene, health and social distancing on buses and in restaurants," she said.

Clais Chenda, president of the Cambodia Hotel Association, which represents about 250 hotels in the country, said almost all of the hotels have either partially or completely suspended their businesses due to the virus.

She said her two hotels, Terres Rouges in Ratanakiri province and Rajabori Villa in Kratie province, have also been closed temporarily as there were no customers.

"Our tourism mainly depends on foreign tourists. Due to the pandemic, there are very few foreigners coming to Cambodia at this time, so most of the hotels have been temporarily closed," she said. "Currently, we are negotiating with landlords who lease premises to hotels to reduce their rental prices in order to enable us to survive this difficult time."

Chenda said for the hotels that are still open during the COVID-19 pandemic, the association has advised them to stick to health and hygiene measures by screening guests' temperatures routinely, providing them with alcohol or antibacterial gel for handwashing, and keeping social distancing among them.

Source - TheJakartaPost

No more oxcart rides in Kampong Chhnang, #Cambodia

Kampong Chhnang, once bustling with activities thanks to an abundance of tourist visits has taken a turn for the worst, no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The smiles of the villagers here have long gone. They used to beam with happiness as they welcomed visitors and people to the Kampong Tralach Leu community. They were happy to provide transportation for tourists who arrived through river cruises.

A highlight of tourist visits was the experience of traveling on oxcarts as they visited century-old temples. But all that is now a distant memory.

The port has gone quiet. Cruise boats don’t dock at Kampong Chhnang anymore. The oxcarts are just left under their houses built on stilts. Many have sold their oxen or cows as the tourist dollars have dried up.

The tourist transportation activities completely stopped after the government announced the temporary closure of the border between Cambodia and Vietnam to stem the Covid-19 outbreak after Cambodia found cruise passengers infected with the novel coronavirus.

Kampong Tralach Leu’s Oxcart Association director Teuk Troeung tells The Post that after the closure of waterway between the two countries, some 140 cows in the community were left in their sheds.

.

.

“Villagers now sell their cows to slaughterhouses because, aside from transporting tourists, the animals had long not been used to plough farmland,” said Troeung, who used to lead his community in transporting tourists by oxcart at least three times a day.

Siem Reap’s Chhreav Agro-tourism Cambodia used to have as many as 350-400 visitors a day under various programmes.

Activities included shopping at the local market, visiting local schools, buying some local vegetables, learning to cook Khmer cuisine, bird-watching, enjoying food with local families and riding on oxcarts to experience village life.

But all these have also come to a standstill.

Krouch Ly, the president of the Information Centre for Cambodia at the Chhreav Agro-tourism Cambodia says: “From dawn, tourists used to catch amazing sights and take pictures of beautiful birds flying in from various places to land on green rice fields in Chhreav and Pea Reang Lake.

“After this, waiting oxcarts transported them to explore the villages. As part of the routine, the oxcarts parked next to the people’s backyard plantations to get a glimpse of how they farmed their land.”

Each day, between 20 and 30 pairs of oxcarts worked to offer tourists such experiences they couldn’t get anywhere else. And the villagers in Chhreav’s community enjoyed their company too.

But now, with tourism practically non-existent, the animals are sold for their meat. 

.

.

Troeung said the situation became dire as the villagers could not afford to feed their adult animals without getting back any benefit from their existence.

So with the money they now earn from selling their cows, the villagers have enough for their subsistence and to buy some calves to raise for better times when the oxcarts once again transport tourists.

“An adult cow that weighs between 300 and 400kg costs about $500. A pair of them we can sell for about $1,000,” says Troeung.

Troeung, who also has a pair of cows, says a calf needs between 18 months and two years to grow to adulthood and be sold for meat.

Aside from Kampong Tralach Leu’s Oxcart Association and Chhreav Agro-tourism Cambodia, many other communities and resorts had offered such oxcart services to tourists as traditional transport.

While the cows have been put up for sale, the carts are left to wither away through the ravages of time.

The Oxcart Association in Kampong Tralach Leu village was founded in almost two decades ago to preserve this centuries-old transportation and promote Khmer culture to local and international tourists.

They used to arrive at the Ka’am Samnar checkpoint through boat cruises, mostly from Vietnam, Phnom Penh, and Kampong Chhnang’s Kampong Tralach Leu village.

After their visit, they usually continued along the Tonle Sap Lake to Pursat and Battambang provinces before heading back.

“Though our oxcart drivers charged between $4 and $5 per trip for each ride, we are happy to take our passengers to explore and visit old temples for a tip,” says Troeung.

He adds that some high-spending tourists used to give them tips ranging from $10 and $20 per trip, which is a tidy sum.

.

.

Source - The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia - Hun Sen welcomes stranded cruise ship passengers

 ,

 Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen this Friday (February 14) travelled to Preah Sihanouk Port to welcome MS Westerdam cruise ship’s passengers who disembarked.

.

 .

 The cheerful atmosphere was broadcast via BTV Cambodia television station and the official Facebook page of the Cambodian leader.

.

.

The 1,455 passengers include tourists from 41 countries, including 651 Americans, 271 Canadians, 127 English and 91 Dutch.

.

.

A spokesman for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia said that charter flights were ready to take passengers from Sihanouk International Airport to Phnom Penh International Airport. Five to six flights were expected since each flight would be able to pick up around 180 passengers.
.

,
The decision allowing Westerdam with more than 2,000 passengers and crew to dock at Sihanoukville, after being rejected by five countries, earned Cambodia appreciation from the World Health Organisation, the ambassador of the United States to Thailand and the European Union.

Source - TheNation

Luxury #Cambodia getaways win worldwide deluxe resort awards

Cambodia used to have the unwanted reputation of a “land of conflict and sorrow”. But that has dramatically changed in recent years. The Kingdom is now known as the place where you can find dome of the best and most alluring luxury destinations in the world.

Last week, that new reputation was strengthened with reports that Shinta Mani Wild and Song Saa Private Island bagged more than a few recognitions in the Destination Deluxe Awards 2019.

The Destination Luxury Awards are the brainchild of Destination Deluxe, a travel and wellness publication that picks and recognizes the top hotels, spas, treatment, skincare and wellness brands in the world. This is the inaugural edition for the awards.

There are 28 categories for the awards. The winners are chosen by a group of distinguished industry experts based on quality, transparency and originality. There are three ranked winners for each category.

Song Saa Private Island is the top awardee in the Eco-Hotel of the Year category. Soneva Fushi in Maldives and Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge in Nicaragua are also on the list.

The Khmer Tonic Spa in Shinta Mani Wild is number one in the Eco-Spa of the Year category. The others in the list are Fivelements Retreat Bali in Indonesia and FieldSpa GoldenEye in Jamaica.
.

.
Shinta Mani Wild itself is the runner-up in the New Hotel of the Year and Hotel Design of the Year awards.

The other winners in the New Hotel of the Year category are Rosewood Hong Kong in Hong Kong and Amarla Boutique Hotel in Colombia.

For the Hotel Design of the Year, the others on the list are Datai Langkawi in Malaysia and Joe Lalli Resort Hotel in China.

“It is both an honour and very humbling that Bensley Collection-Shinta Mani Wild has been the recipient of ten awards in its first year of operation and a tribute to the GM and his team for their dedication, commitment and hard work on a daily basis,” Bill Bensley, the world-renowned designer behind Shinta Mani Wild, said.

“Shinta Mani Wild has an important eco and sustainability message, especially with our Wildlife Alliance partnership and their daily patrols to protect the forest and its inhabitants. These awards also bring much-needed awareness to the work we do in this regard,” he added.

The two Cambodian luxury destinations have reaped numerous international awards between them in recent years.

Shinta Mani Wild, which sits on 160 hectares of land between the Cardamon, Bokor and Kirirom national parks, said that it “provides the highest level of luxury while also working to protect the environment around it”. It opened two years ago.

Last year, it was included in the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Big Sleep Awards 2019, Time magazine’s “100 Greatest Destinations on Earth”, Condé Nast Traveller (UK) Hot List 2019, Harper’s Bazaar Ultimate Travel Guide 2019 (UK) : 100 Greatest Experiences in The World, among other recognitions. Located in Preah Sihanouk province, Song Saa Private Island is an ultra-exclusive and luxury getaway said to be frequented by some of the richest and most famous people in the world.

Last month, Luxury Travel Intelligence named it as among the “top 10 best luxury hotels built this decade”.

Source - Khmer Times

#Cambodia - Construction of new Phnom Penh airport on schedule

Construction of a new airport that will serve Phnom Penh is on track and could be completed as early as 2023, the developer said.

Pung Kheav Se, chairman of the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC), the company behind the project, said they are now building the foundations of the airport, conducting an environmental impact assessment, and negotiating with people affected by construction.

Mr Kheav Se was speaking to reporters yesterday at the Cambodia International Construction Industry Expo in Phnom Penh’s Diamond Island

Mr Kheav Se, a renowned investor and chairman of the Board of Directors of Canadia Bank, said, “We are now laying the foundations and building the runway. If there are no issues with the land, I believe that the airport will be ready by 2023.”

.

.

OCIC has invested in numerous big projects in Cambodia, including Diamond Island Development City, Olympia City, and, most notably, Chroy Changvar Satellite City.

Sin Chansereyvutha, spokesman of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said the airport is not likely to be finished so soon.

“We need time to clear the land and lay the foundations and solve any land dispute. As per our schedule, the new airport will be ready by 2024, but it may be delayed until 2025,” he said.

Chrek Soknim, president of the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association, said the project is a significant achievement for the nation that will boost the economy.

“Once the new airport is finished, the real estate and construction sectors in Cambodia will attract more investors. The land around the airport has attracted a lot of investment already after it was chosen as the site of the new airport,” Mr Soknim said.

Source - Khmer Times

#Cambodia to ban elephant rides at Angkor temples

Cambodia will ban all elephant rides at the country's famed Angkor temple park by early next year, an official said Friday, a rare win for conservationists who have long decried the popular practice as cruel.

The Angkor archaeological complex in northern Siem Reap attracts the bulk of the kingdom's foreign tourists -- which topped six million in 2018 -- and many opt for elephants rides around the ancient temples.

But these rides "will end by the start of 2020", said Long Kosal, a spokesman with the Apsara Authority, which manages the park.

"Using elephants for business is not appropriate anymore," he told AFP, adding that some of the animals were "already old".

 

So far, five of the 14 working elephants have been transferred to a community forest about 40 kilometres (25 miles) away from the temples.

"They will live out their natural lives there," Kosal said.

The company that owns the elephants will continue to look after them, he added.

Cambodia has long come under fire from animal rights groups for ubiquitous elephant rides on offer for tourists, also seen in neighboring Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. 

The elephants are broken in during training and rights groups have accused handlers of overworking them.

In 2016, a female elephant died by the roadside after carrying tourists around the Angkor Wat temple complex in severely hot weather.

The animal had been working for around 45 minutes before she collapsed.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Cambodia plans Da Nang flight to boost tourism with #Vietnam

Prime Minister Hun Sen last week said a soon-to-begin direct flight between Phnom Penh and Da Nang, in central Vietnam, will boost the number of Vietnamese visitors to the Kingdom.

Speaking during a business forum during a two-day visit to Vietnam, Mr Hun Sen said the new fight, which will be operated by Cambodia’s national flag carrier, will play an important role in attracting more tourists from Vietnam.

“Vietnam continues to be the second-largest tourist market for Cambodia, and we expect to see more and more Vietnamese tourists choosing Cambodia as their holiday destination,” he said.

He said the Kingdom welcomed about 470,000 Vietnamese tourists during the first seven months of the year, an increase of 4.6 percent over the corresponding period last year.

Cambodia Angkor Air, the national flag carrier, recently announced that its Phnom Penh-Da Nang route will launch on Oct 27. Phnom Penh will become the second city, after Siem Reap, that the airline connects with Da Nang.

Mr Hun Sen said the new flight is a welcomed addition to the existing 112 flights that connect Cambodia and Vietnam every week.

Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, noted the number of Vietnamese tourists is on the rise.

“The flight will not only bring in more Vietnamese tourists. Foreign tourists that visit Da Nang now also have the opportunity to board a plane and travel directly to Phnom Penh,” she said.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon recently urged airlines in Vietnam to increase the number and frequency of flights to Cambodia, particularly to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the coastal areas. He said that at least 15 percent of Vietnamese tourists prefer air travel.

The minister noted that Cambodia aims to attract about one million Vietnamese tourists a year by 2020. Currently, about 900,000 Vietnamese tourists visit Cambodia every year.

Cambodia and Vietnam have also agreed to cooperate on marine tourism once the new seaport in Kampot province is completed, which is expected to happen in 2021.

Mr Khon said marine tourism cooperation is an effective mechanism to boost cooperation among Asean countries.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism, from January to July, Cambodia welcomed 1,154,786 visitors from Asean countries, a 5 percent hike compared to the same period last year.

Source - Khmer Times

Hilton to open first hotel in #Cambodia

Hilton has announced plans to enter the Kingdom’s market, with its first hotel set to come online in Phnom Penh by 2022.

The exact location of the planned Hilton hotel has not been disclosed, but reports indicate that it will be near the Central Market.

Hilton Phnom Penh will have 280 rooms and an all-day dining restaurant, lobby bar, and fitness centre, among other amenities.

To operate it, the US-based firm has signed a management agreement with real estate development group GFC Company, according to a report by TTG Asia released last week.

Paul Hutton, Hilton vice president for Southeast Asia, said they decided to expand into Cambodia because the country is primed for growth. He noted that the Kingdom experienced the third-largest increase in the number of international tourist in Asean last year, behind Vietnam and Indonesia.

“We believe the strength of Hilton brand will go a long way in helping to boost Phnom Penh as a tourism destination,” he said.

Cambodia has become an attractive destination for international hotel chains. Already several well-known international brands have a presence here: Sofitel Hotel & Resorts, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Park Hyatt, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses, Hotel Emion, Ibis Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott, Alila Hotels & Resorts, Belmond, and Le Meridien.

Moreover, in July, UK-based Yoo Hotels & Resorts announced plans to build a hotel in Cambodia under its Yoo2 lifestyle brand.

According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia welcomed 3.3 million holidaymakers during the first half of the year, an 11.2 percent hike compared to the same period in 2018.

The number of Chinese tourists, in particular, experienced strong growth. From January to June, 1.2 million Chinese nationals visited the country, a 38 percent increase.

 

Source - Khmer Times

#Cambodian resort among Time magazine’s greatest destinations

Shinta Mani Wild at Sre Ambel in Koh Kong province

 Shinta Mani Wild, an innovative luxury resort and conservation centre, has brought fame to Cambodia after Time magazine, one of the most influential international news publications, included it in its 2019 World’s Greatest Places list.

.

 Some 100 exceptional destinations around the globe are listed in the World’s Greatest Places. Time started the list last year.

Shinta Mani Wild was included in the ‘To Stay’ section together with iconic destinations from the United States, Kenya, Bhutan, Uruguay, China, and Israel, among other countries. Several cruise ships were also on the list.

 Shinta Mani Wild was the sole destination from Cambodia that made it to the list.

.

.

Chenda Clais, president of the Cambodia Hotel Association, said Shinta Mani Wild deserved the recognition.

“I think it is a well-deserved recognition for a beautiful hotel which is also contributing to preserving Cambodia’s environment as well as making it a tourism destination,” she stressed. “It is an honour for our country.”

Shinta Mani Wild, which sits on more than 160 hectares of forest, is located between Cardamon, Bokor, and Kirirom national parks. The brainchild of renowned designer Bill Bensley, it opened its doors to the public late last year.

Lonely Planet described it as a “radical new concept that combines first-class design with serious conservation goals”.

.

.

To come up with the list, Time, on its website, said that it solicited nominations from museums, parks, hotels, restaurants, industry experts, and from their editors and correspondents around the world. The nominees were evaluated based on key factors that included originality, sustainability, innovation, and influence.

.

Source - Khmer Times

Mekong Jewel: Another ‘super ship’ to ply the Mekong River

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, a United States-based international cruise line, will soon launch another river cruise ship that will ply the waters between Cambodia and Vietnam.

As reported in ‘World of Cruising’, Mekong Jewel, which is among four “super ships” that Uniworld will launch next year, will ferry passengers between the two countries starting January 3 next year.

Mekong Jewel will replace its sister ship, Mekong Navigator, which has been in operation in the Mekong since 2017. The Mekong Navigator, which can carry 68 passengers, is famous for a design that mirrors that of manors that lined Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) during the French colonial era.

According to an article in ‘Cruise Critic’, Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridege said the company is putting the best ships out there. “Our ships are absolutely unique and, like a boutique hotel, reflect the destinations they serve, from decor and artwork to food, beverage, and programming,” she said.

“We look forward to making our high-caliber service and personalisation in these remarkable destinations even better,” she added.

Mekong Jewel will traverse the Mekong from its homeport in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Mekong Jewel’s 13-day itinerary brings it from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap in Cambodia, with stops in Phnom Penh and other tourist destinations in both countries, including the world-famous Angkor Wat.

Kampong Cham and several river towns in Vietnam like Vinh Long and Cai Be, where Mekong Navigator used to make stops, could also be part of the itinerary.

 According to the official website of Uniworld, Mekong Jewel can carry 68 passengers and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including suite accommodation, an indoor swimming pool, an alfresco eatery, sauna, gym, library, and two lounges.

The ship is made out of eco-friendly materials.

A part of The Travel Corporation (TTC), Uniworld operates a fleet of more than 20 river cruise ships across the globe, including Europe, Russia, and China.

Source - Khmer Times

#Cambodia - Beating the heat at mango plantation waterfall in Battambang

The relaxation begins as soon as you see the blossoming yellow flowers lining the road leading up to the mango plantation.

Passing through a large entrance with a sign saying “Welcome to Mango Plantation Waterfall Resort”, visitors drive down a wide road that dissects rows of thousands of mango trees dominating the landscape of Battambang province’s Samlot district.

The main attraction at Chamkar Svay Waterfall Resort, as it is known in Khmer, is the river running through it, where visitors sit in gazebos eating and relaxing along its banks.

“This resort attracts people since it is not developed. They love swimming and eating on mats, as well as relaxing until dusk before they go home,” Monn Mika, 52, the resort’s owner, told The Post.

“I initially began planting mango trees without thinking about creating a resort. But with the mountainous water flow I thought it could be a tourism attraction. So I began developing it step-by-step until it started attracting many people.”

Situated next to 87ha of land that after two years is entirely cultivated with mango trees, Chamkar Svay Waterfall Resort now welcomes hundreds of visitors daily who bathe in the river that flows from Chambang Mountain.

Sok Theary, a visitor with two friends from Samlot town on a recent Sunday, praised the resorts “beautiful and cold water”. 

.

.

Visitors can also order fresh food at the riverside, including roast chicken, roast fish, stir-fry or soup, as well as many appetisers and snacks, with prices ranging from 10,000 riel to 50,000 riel ($2.50 to $12.50).

Visitors are also welcome to camp in the mango plantation.

“Guests who come here do not only just swim in the natural river and explore the mango plantation, they can also go camping. We serve food and there is a cleanliness charge of $1.00 or $2.00 per person,” said Mika.

Mika said that in the dry season, the stream’s flow is lower and exposes many of the rocks on the riverbed for people to sit on. But in the rainy season, the river’s flow increases and people can enjoy bathing. 

“I pay much attention to cleanliness. I tell all staff to clean the rubbish daily so it doesn’t impact visitors and keeps the environment clean.

“My current main job is to take care of the plantation and resort, so I keep making the place more attractive, and me and my wife plan to buy boats for visitors,” he said.

Chamkar Svay Waterfall Resort is located in Sambout district’s Prey Sdao village, some 80km from Battambang town or 7km from Sek Sak Tourism Resort. Visitors pay 10,000 riel to bring their car into the resort.

Source - PhnomPhenPost

.

.

Over 3m tourists visit #Cambodia in H1

Cambodia welcomed 3.3 million holidaymakers during the first half of the year, an 11.2 percent hike, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism.

The number of Chinese tourists, in particular, experienced strong growth from January to June. 1.2 million Chinese nationals visited the country during H1, a 38 percent increase.

China remains Cambodia’s largest tourism market, accounting for 38.7 percent of all tourists.

It is followed by Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, ranking second, third and fourth, respectively.

Tourists from South Korea, on the other hand, declined by 20.2 percent, while those from the United States decreased by 1.1 percent, the Ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Top Sopheak said the sector is experiencing healthy growth.

“In our view, the tourism sector is developing positively. The number of foreign tourists visiting the country continues to grow.

“Tourists from certain countries have indeed decreased but this is a normal market trend that should not worry us because, overall, the number of tourists has increased,” Mr Sopheak said.

According to the Ministry, Siem Reap province, home of the famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the country’s top tourist sight, saw a declined in visitors from January to June. Just 1.2 million foreign tourists visited the site, an 8 percent decrease.

By contrast, Phnom Penh and coastal areas saw strong growth in tourist arrivals, with the capital welcoming more than 2 million people and the coast nearly 600,000, a 27 percent hike in both cases.

Mr Sopheak noted that the rising number of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom is part of a wider trend, with more and more Chinese nationals travelling for leisure outside their country.

“The number of Chinese tourists is rising everywhere, not just Cambodia. But in the case of Cambodia, the close diplomatic ties with the Chinese government and the increase in investment coming from that country is certainly helping attract more tourists,” Mr Sopheak said.

He said the decline in the number of tourists in Siem Reap province is the result of tourists choosing to visit alternative destinations within the Kingdom.

“Instead of Siem Reap, more and more tourists are choosing to visit the coast and the Northeast,” Mr Sopheak said.

Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, told Khmer Times that more needs to be done to encourage tourists to stay in the Kingdom longer.

“It is good that more and more foreign tourists are visiting Cambodia. However, it is also important that the government and the private sector work together to create new tourism products that encourage people to stay here longer,” Ms Sivlin said.

During the first half of the year, the Kingdom’s three major airports handled a combined 2.3 million foreign tourists.

Last year, 6.2 million foreign holidaymakers visited the Kingdom, a 10.7 percent increase year-on-year. Cambodia is expected to attract 7 million foreign tourists a year by 2020, generating $4.3 billion for the industry. About 2 million of those visitors will come from China.

Source - Khmer Times

#Cambodia - Tractor rides and hiking to reach Oral Mountain’s peak

Though Oral Mountain is the hightest peak in Cambodia, even those without trekking experience won’t find reaching the summit hard. But the real obstacle to the summit is the tricky road journey before, with the use of a tractor almost essential.

Nearby Srae Ken village is home to about 300 Suoy Malou indigenous families. They use tractors as their daily transportation as their village does not have paved roads.

“When tourists reach the villages, we provide a tractor to take them anywhere, whether waterfalls or the peak of Oral Mountain. As you see, the road in the villages is quite hard for vehicles to drive on. Here, aside from bicycles and motorbikes, only tractors can transport materials, people and tourists,” said Theang Soth, one of a handful of local guides from Srae Ken Community, where tourists start their journey to the mountain.

It is 8km from Srae Ken village to a waterfall named Prek Snar at the mountain’s foot – a journey that takes more than two hours for tourists on a tractor driving down an unpaved road.

Soth, 47, a local guide for more than 17 years, told The Post: “One tractor can take seven to eight people, and normally we have one driver and one or two guides to help during the difficult journey. We charge $35 per guide for a day and tractor hire costs $50 per day.

“Some people come to visit a few places and then go back home – most of these people are from around Kampong Speu province. Others stay overnight, trekking from one waterfall to another on the same stream. A one day trek is not enough to explore all the waterfalls.”
.

.
Muth Pech drove his tractor with a large family from Thpong district and carried a speaker on his shoulder playing loud music.

“We came for bathing and lunch together then we are going back home,” he said, as he took the family to Prek Snar waterfall, which has a slope resembling a water slide that plunges into a 1.2m pool.

Soth is also a good chef, and he prepares lunch in the jungle with basic equipment.
“Tourists order food with us, such as two chickens for six people, and we cook them in the forest with condiments, ingredients and rice. Normally we do chicken sour soup and grilled chicken that is enough for several people,” he said.

Soth takes his guests on a more than two-hour walk after they get off the tractor.

“From the lower stream, we visit Smounh cave where we have installed beds to relax. We also visit Bak Kanhchherl, Steung Kroul and Korki creeks, which all have cascades. If people want to see all the waterfalls, spending just one day is not enough,” he said. 
.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

For benefit of the whole Srae Ken Community, authorities and locals are working to build a pebble trail that will make access easier.

“We are very happy to see construction vehicles building a road in front of our homes. We’ve never seen such a nice roads in our villages,” said Chhem Chhim, Srae Ken Community chief, which was founded in 2004 in Oral district’s Trapang Chhou commune.

“When we have a new road, Srae Ken Community is going to welcome more visitors who wish to visit Oral Mountain and it will bring ecotourism jobs for our people.”

While guides cook for visitors, all expenses are the responsibility of tourists, including meat, vegetables, condiments and steamed rice.

Source - PhnomPenhPost 

#Cambodia - Royal Turtles return to the wild

The Royal Turtle, Cambodia’s National Reptile – per Royal Decree, is a critically endangered species.  A turn of twenty of them was released into Sre Ambel River in Preah Sihanouk Province on Friday, April 26 by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Fisheries Administration.

The turtles’ release was made possible by the new EU-funded Counter Wildlife Trafficking Project, which is discharged by the WCS in partnership with the Wildlife Alliance, the Cambodian Rural Development Team and the Fisheries Administration.

The WCS commented, “This is the third Royal Turtle release since 2015, making a total of 66 turtles. Each turtle released today is 12 years old and weighs between 10 and 15 kilograms. They were cared for at the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre after they hatched on the [banks of] Sre Ambel River.”

Eng Cheasan, Director General of the Fisheries Administration, led the action, which was attended by delegates from the EU, including George Edgar, the EU’s ambassador to Cambodia, and representatives from various government departments, local authorities, monks, villagers, teachers and students.

.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

.

Source - Khmer Times

#Cambodia - An explorer's guide for a one-day tour of Phnom Penh.

For Westerners, Cambodia is included by default on their must-visit list for touring Southeast Asia. This might not be the case among Asian travelers, who tend to visit more renowned and modern countries such as Japan and South Korea, or even Hong Kong – at least at the time of writing.

Over the past few years I've been traveling widely, I never thought about setting foot in Cambodia – let alone exploring it on my own. Now that I have visited the country, I can say with confidence that it is an experience I will always cherish.

Cambodia is truly one of a kind. The country seems to scream uniqueness in its every aspect, from its unusual currency system that combines US dollars and Cambodian riel, to prehistoric temples standing in the middle of the French-influenced metropolis of Phnom Penh, and to the amusing sound of its language. Experiencing this was a little overwhelming at first, even for an Asian guy like me.

The top cities to visit in Cambodia are Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. For starters, I recommend visiting Phnom Penh first, before making your way through the rest of the country, since it is a perfect gateway for adjusting to Cambodia's ambiance.

However, Phnom Penh is said to have fewer tourist destinations compared to other Southeast Asian capitals like Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. This is why I decided to take a one-day tour around Phnom Penh in an attempt to visit some of its most famous sites.

If you're interested in a day trip exploring the Cambodian capital, here are some things you might need to know before setting out, based on the experiences I had during my visit to the city.

.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

.

Best transportation modes

I researched the cheapest way to get around Phnom Penh and came across some great recommendations for taking the city bus. In reality, though, I had a hard time finding the right buses and bus stations.

Taking the tuk-tuk (motorized rickshaw) might also be somewhat difficult for foreigners, since the fare is habitually determined by relationship and tuk-tuk drivers tend to set a higher baseline fare for foreigners – not to mention the greater risk of snatching on public transportation.

In the end, I decided to order through Grab instead. Grab is a widely popular ride-hailing app in Cambodia, and my experience showed it's relatively easy to make a booking and get a driver in Phnom Penh. Even better, you can still experience the joy of riding a tuk-tuk by ordering Grab Tuk-Tuk, which I tried once with excitement during my one day in Phnom Penh.

.

.

Places worth visiting

Despite the limited options, taking a one-day tour in Phnom Penh can be hectic if you don't sort out the places you want to visit beforehand. Most destinations are temples and landmarks, and most are very pretty so choosing between them could be harder than you might think. I suggest taking into account the travel time between destinations and plan a relatively linear route to avoid going back and forth to save valuable time.

Wat Phnom is a beautiful temple in the center of the city and a perfect choice. Getting there isn't hard, since it is practically the focal point of Phnom Penh.

The first pagoda in Wat Phnom was built in 1372. Enter the temple to experience the mesmerizing golden statue – something you won't find anywhere else.

Another place worth visiting is Royal Palace Park. Here, you will see the rare temple-shaped palace that stands in a modern, Western-like area. Lay down on the lawn and have a moment of relaxation while enjoying the chirping birds and the stunning view.

Stay safe

Phnom Penh in particular is known for being occasionally unsafe for foreigners, which is unfortunate. The most common street crimes are snatching bags  and stealing bicycles. It is always advisable to take only one small bag and keep it on your body at all times.

When taking public transportation like tuk-tuk, sit in the middle of the vehicle. Another thing I found useful was to look alert and like you know where you're going. Walk straight and fast, even when you're not entirely sure of your direction, and avoid looking at Google Maps for too long. That way, you'll avoid looking like a lost tourist and avoid becoming a target.

If you are Caucasian, take extra safety measures and avoid talking to suspicious people that might try and scam you.

What to wear

Planning your journey is good, but be sure to go the extra mile and plan ahead on what you'll wear during your trip.

As it sits near the equator, Cambodia has its own share of direct sunlight, and sunburn can spoil your entire day. So, wear lightweight and sweat-absorbing clothes that will keep you cool while protecting your skin.

Also, do note that most Asian cultures prefer more proper attire, which means it's best to stay away from tank tops and shorts. Heading out in a pair of loose jeans and a light-colored T-shirt is advisable, as this will help you to blend in well yet is still practical to keep your body from retaining excessive heat.

What to eat

Finally, treat yourself to some great dishes you won’t find anywhere else. The streets of Phnom Penh has a lot to offer, both day and night. Treat your taste buds to the myriad street food you will find easily in the city, and be sure to give traditional dishes a try.

I personally loved Fish Amok, one of Cambodia's national dishes. The full-bodied dish's creamy coconut texture stole my heart. I remember coming across a recommendations online to try red tree ants, which literally has red ants in it. Lots of ants. If you enjoy the Fear Factor, go ahead and try it. Don’t forget to let us know how it tastes.

All in all, Phnom Penh is a must-visit when exploring Cambodia. While the country is famous for its many temples and ancient structures, including the glorious Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh is more than the usual fare. Coming here will give you a sense of what it feels like to live in a country rich in history and tradition, yet also contemporary in its own way. 

Source - TheJakartaPost

Harya Danniswara is an avid traveler and writer for Life For Experts, a website for travelers to share their experiences, insights and tips on travel, food and life values. Find him on Instagram and Twitter.