PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Tourist arrivals in Cambodia soared 13 percent in the first half of 2008, but the tourism minister warned Tuesday that Thais may avoid the kingdom as a border dispute drags on.
Ministry of Tourism statistics showed that nearly 1.1 million foreigners, including 67,502 from neighbouring Thailand, entered Cambodia from January until June, up 13 percent on the same period last year.
"This is a satisfactory increase," Tourism Minister Thong Khon told AFP.
But he said arrivals of Thai tourists were expected to drop after a territorial dispute on their joint border over land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which was listed as a UN World Heritage Site last month.
"We don't expect many more Thai tourists to come because they cannot go see the Preah Vihear temple," Thong Khon said.
Cambodia closed the border crossing from Thailand to Preah Vihear in late June, ahead of the July 15 arrest of three Thai nationalist protesters who tried to illegally cross into Cambodia to reach the temple.
The incident sparked a military stand-off, and more than 1,000 Thai and Cambodian soldiers are now stationed on a patch of disputed land near the ruin.
The tourism ministry did not say how many Thais entered Cambodia at the Preah Vihear crossing this year.
Of all international visitors, more than half flocked to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples in northwestern Siem Reap province, the ministry said.
Those World Heritage-listed ruins have been key in reviving Cambodia's tourism sector since 2003, when a regional SARS panic and anti-Thai riots in the country's capital Phnom Penh drove visitor figures into the ground.
But the government has also begun planning a number of tourism initiatives as part of a broader plan to both keep foreigners in Cambodia longer, and develop some of the country's more impoverished areas.
Tourist arrivals to Cambodia topped two million in 2007, and the sector remains one of the few sources of foreign exchange for the country, where millions live in poverty after decades of civil strife.
Ministry of Tourism statistics showed that nearly 1.1 million foreigners, including 67,502 from neighbouring Thailand, entered Cambodia from January until June, up 13 percent on the same period last year.
"This is a satisfactory increase," Tourism Minister Thong Khon told AFP.
But he said arrivals of Thai tourists were expected to drop after a territorial dispute on their joint border over land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which was listed as a UN World Heritage Site last month.
"We don't expect many more Thai tourists to come because they cannot go see the Preah Vihear temple," Thong Khon said.
Cambodia closed the border crossing from Thailand to Preah Vihear in late June, ahead of the July 15 arrest of three Thai nationalist protesters who tried to illegally cross into Cambodia to reach the temple.
The incident sparked a military stand-off, and more than 1,000 Thai and Cambodian soldiers are now stationed on a patch of disputed land near the ruin.
The tourism ministry did not say how many Thais entered Cambodia at the Preah Vihear crossing this year.
Of all international visitors, more than half flocked to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples in northwestern Siem Reap province, the ministry said.
Those World Heritage-listed ruins have been key in reviving Cambodia's tourism sector since 2003, when a regional SARS panic and anti-Thai riots in the country's capital Phnom Penh drove visitor figures into the ground.
But the government has also begun planning a number of tourism initiatives as part of a broader plan to both keep foreigners in Cambodia longer, and develop some of the country's more impoverished areas.
Tourist arrivals to Cambodia topped two million in 2007, and the sector remains one of the few sources of foreign exchange for the country, where millions live in poverty after decades of civil strife.
4 comments:
Oh no.
What we going to do?????
Nooooo.
We don't want Thais around anyway, all they want to do is to steal lands from us. That's their motivation. They invaded Preah Vihear temple and now they invade Prasat Ta Moun Thom inside Cambodia not include some other lands along the border that they try to grab.
cambodia don't care about thai tourists, especially after they violated the international treaty with cambodia. other foreign tourists are more important than the thai ones, in cambodia's opinion. so, stop violating the international law already, thailand. god bless cambodia.
SWOT Analyse
win-thai
Stength:
we are stronger because most of military support is from individual's private property-means we are rich no need government budget.
Siams use govt budget to supply army.
Human resources- a lot of Generals-Phd. Excellencies- Co-ministers/Primeministers/ a lot of Kings/Samdachs..Oknhas
Budget: unlimited- collecting from people/monks/poors
Military strength- qualified/ mostly ghost soldiers (invisible)-many Generals
Margic Spell/Black margic: very effective- one thai army died may be due AIDS
Financial resources: land/govt. , any stateowned properties buildings/ heritage natural resources can be sold quickly to buy weapons without any parliamentary Approval ...
Power- handed only one strong man/ every thing can be decided fast...
Political Parties: no need to oppose any govermental decision
Infrastructure-very poor- makes rhais army difficult to move into Cam-territory
Economy: Low- Thais have nothing to eat when invade into Cam....
Weakness:N/A
Oppoertuny- unknown
Treat: uncountable/unknown
Conclusdion- Cam wins Siams unconditionally
Excellency Dr. Bandit Oknha Achar Knoy- Phd. in multi-disciplinary Subjects: Poli/Multi-econom. Laws /From Chea Chamreourn Unviersity PPenh/Campuchia
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