PHNOM PENH (AFP)--Tourist arrivals to Cambodia climbed 19% for the first three quarters of 2007 compared to the same period last year, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday.
"We expect tourist arrivals to reach 2.0 million in 2007," he told a biannual investment and trade meeting.
Cambodia recorded about 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2006.
The burgeoning tourist sector has injected new life into impoverished Cambodia, which is still recovering from decades of conflict.
The boom in visitors has brought with it new construction, as developers race to meet demand for hotels and resorts, Hun Sen said.
Earlier this year the government also approved plans for several high-end resorts worth $627 million to be built on the islands off of the country's southern coast.
Foreign airlines have been keen to take advantage of the rising number of tourists, with Japan Airlines becoming the latest carrier to offer direct charter flights to Cambodia.
JAL will fly between three major Japanese cities and Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples.
Hun Sen said two companies are in talks with officials to form a national carrier, of which the Cambodian government will hold a 30% stake.
Several attempts to form a national airline have failed since Royal Air Cambodge, the country's last carrier, collapsed in 2001 under the weight of mounting financial debts.
The prime minister said negotiators had reached a deal that would protect the government from any losses incurred by the airline.
"We have been waiting for so long now," he said, urging officials to speed up the talks.
"We expect tourist arrivals to reach 2.0 million in 2007," he told a biannual investment and trade meeting.
Cambodia recorded about 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2006.
The burgeoning tourist sector has injected new life into impoverished Cambodia, which is still recovering from decades of conflict.
The boom in visitors has brought with it new construction, as developers race to meet demand for hotels and resorts, Hun Sen said.
Earlier this year the government also approved plans for several high-end resorts worth $627 million to be built on the islands off of the country's southern coast.
Foreign airlines have been keen to take advantage of the rising number of tourists, with Japan Airlines becoming the latest carrier to offer direct charter flights to Cambodia.
JAL will fly between three major Japanese cities and Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples.
Hun Sen said two companies are in talks with officials to form a national carrier, of which the Cambodian government will hold a 30% stake.
Several attempts to form a national airline have failed since Royal Air Cambodge, the country's last carrier, collapsed in 2001 under the weight of mounting financial debts.
The prime minister said negotiators had reached a deal that would protect the government from any losses incurred by the airline.
"We have been waiting for so long now," he said, urging officials to speed up the talks.
14 comments:
Good news indeed, this meant many many people got jobs.
Thank you lord for looking out for the Khmer people.
Thank you for the climb in tourism but what about climb in revenue?
No climb in revenue? How can dirt poor Cambodian people make money when the penny tourists refused to spend their money? Ahahahahh!
Well, 19% mean about 19% climb in revenue from tourism, that is it. I hope you don't expect billion and billion.
You Animal Viet troller @4:508PM,7:21PM is from one same Viet troller. You must know that I am just like your shadow...I'll be everywhere you are here on KI-Media. I am in your face until you disappear from KI-Media. You animal Viet troller can no longer pretend to be khmer speaking for Khmer. I know who you are. I know how you write. You can no longer loiter, litter, or spam KI-Media...
Now, Go home Animal Viet troller!
Now, go home Animal Vietcong!
19% climb in tourism means Sok Kong, Vietnamese, earns 19% more profit for his pocket. It doesn't belong to Cambodia people. Hun Sen is Khmer traitor who sold or lease Cambodia nation's properties to foreigners. It's very grave consequences that he stole national treasures. When the government comes to power, Hun Sen and his clients like Sok Kong need to be arrested and brought to justice. Then take all their earnings back to Cambodia people and their nation.
19% climb in tourism and will be more,but no money!!!
Our cultur ,our temple,our Angkor Wat,our country and become the money only Hun Xen and Youn Sok Kong and the big corrupt is Sok Ahn.
Thanks Angkor Wat for the rise of foreign tourists. If it wasn't for Angkor Wat, do you think this government would be able to bring as many tourists to Cambodia? The answer may not surprise you; it's the BIG NO NO NO... The whole world knows how ignorant, arrogant and incompetent the CPP gansters are in this Youn-run government, never mind bringing in tourism to Cambodia.
Look at the bright side... most tourists don't spend most of their money on getting into the Angkor Complex. They spend on foods, shelters, gifts etc... These spendings benefit from top to bottom. The fee into the angkor complex is small compared to the other spendings.
3:10, the 19% increase in tourism revenue means we'll get 5% more road in the area, 5% more town development, 5% more books for students, and 4% more electricity.
4:58, it is okay for the CPP to ignore AH Criminal Khmer-Yuon illegal immigrants. They only have to look out for Khmer people.
19% increase in tourists brings both cost and benifits to Cambodia. Angkor is deteroriating because there is no proper care from Sok Kong.
Yes, those tourists'll spend their pocket money staying and buying things from Cambodia. But look at the products they buy: 99% imported. Look at the Hotels and Guest house they stay: 99% foreign own.
Plus the money they spend on visiting Angkor complex pocketing Sok Khong and the corrupt officials.
What is left for Cambodian workers and younger generation then?1-A monthly salary of $40 hotel workers?2-A tuk tuk drivers?3-Prostitution?4-Yes, tour guides, but how many?5-Souvenir,food, drink sellers selling most of the products from Thailand and Vietnam?6-What else?
Khmemara
Phnom Penh
Bullshit, 8:43, Ankor is in better shape now than it was 10 years ago.
And we don't care what they buy, the middle man will get profit in the middle.
And no, no one is pocketing anything except for Ah Khmer-Yuon criminals.
Touris arrive , look at the Tonlie Sap Sewer and the Riverside Rubbish Dump then get on a plane to Vietnam
Don't worry, it will all get flushed down to the ocean via the Mekong river after the rainy season.
Post a Comment