Thu, 27 Nov 2008
DPA
Phnom Penh -The seizure of Thailand's main international airport by protesters Wednesday left thousands of travelers stranded in Cambodia and will hurt the country's already beleaguered tourism sector, officials and tourism industry leaders said Thursday. Director of Civil Aviation Chea Aun said up to seven Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia flights from Phnom Penh to Bangkok were cancelled Wednesday, leaving more than 1,000 business people and tourists stranded in the capital.
"There were also five Thai Airways flights cancelled from Siem Reap to Bangkok, which grounded a few hundred passengers there," he said.
Chea Aun said the aviation authority did not know when flights would resume and could not comment on the likelihood of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport reopening.
President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agencies Ho Vandy said thousands of foreign tourists had been left without accommodation in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
"Many tourists who were supposed to check out of hotels on Wednesday could not stay because the hotels had no more rooms available," he said.
"This is big problem, but the travel agencies are working together to find accommodation for these people."
Ho Vadny said ongoing political tensions in Bangkok had made a "serious impact" on Cambodia's previously buoyant tourism sector.
Tourist arrivals in Cambodia have slumped in recent months amid fears over an ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and the volatile political situation in Thailand, which is regarded as a tourism gateway to its South-East Asian neighbours.
"There were also five Thai Airways flights cancelled from Siem Reap to Bangkok, which grounded a few hundred passengers there," he said.
Chea Aun said the aviation authority did not know when flights would resume and could not comment on the likelihood of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport reopening.
President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agencies Ho Vandy said thousands of foreign tourists had been left without accommodation in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
"Many tourists who were supposed to check out of hotels on Wednesday could not stay because the hotels had no more rooms available," he said.
"This is big problem, but the travel agencies are working together to find accommodation for these people."
Ho Vadny said ongoing political tensions in Bangkok had made a "serious impact" on Cambodia's previously buoyant tourism sector.
Tourist arrivals in Cambodia have slumped in recent months amid fears over an ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and the volatile political situation in Thailand, which is regarded as a tourism gateway to its South-East Asian neighbours.
8 comments:
Prey Nokor rolom Phnom Penh roleay Bangkok kchat kchay Sabay Angkor Wat.
Jayo Khmer!
Business is business. it will bring more regional airlines to increase flights to Siem riep and PP to replace traffic from thailand. This will take time to adjust but tourists
flying to siem riep transiting through bangkok will pass through vietam, singapore; kuala lumpur, etc
everyone benefits.
Cambodia will suffer some pains but the thai tourist industry will be devastated if not decimated if this continues.
So thailand has so much more to lose and cambodia so much more to win in terms of tourism and foreign investments for the future.
Question of the day: "Who is running the country"?
Prey Nokor rolom Phnom Penh roleay Bangkok and Angkor Wat kchat kchay
Sabay U.S.A.
SHAY KOR THAI repeter même les khmers en France moi je n'ai jamais jamais fais confiance ni la thailande ni les vietnamiens ni air china et j'excite même les gens à prendre Air Malaysia et air singapour AIR THAI AIR THAI AIR THAI
From this sexperience, Cambodia must not just have only road through Siam. Why Why only fligh through Siam?
The time is now to have our own international airport. Make the one in Phom Pehn bigger. Add the next big one in Battambang. From the Chinise proverb " where there is a treat there is an opportunity ". Go Cambodia! Go!
Yes, why tourist business can only be in Thailand? Look at all those lands and beaches....What are we guarding for just birds?
Let's hope that Kith Meng won't be the only one into this.
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