Original report from Phnom Penh
05 January 2009
The number of visitors to Cambodia in 2008 surpassed 2007, but officials said Monday less people than hoped had found their way to the kingdom.
The global financial crisis and political unrest in Thailand had both contributed to the lower-than-expected figures, officials said.
In 2008, more than 2.1 million foreign visitors came to Cambodia, a 6 percent rise over the previous year that was about 10 percent lower than expected, Kong Sopheareak, head of the statistics department at the Ministry of Tourism, said Monday.
"First, the global financial crisis, and another thing was the political crisis in Thailand, both of which affected us," he said.
More than a third of all tourists coming to Cambodia travel through Thailand, while another third come through Vietnam and about 3 percent come through Laos, he said. The rest arrive from other countries, he said.
About 60 percent of tourists come by plane, he continued, and about 4 percent are "same day" visitors.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Monday the ministry was pushing for even more visitors in 2009, including promoting the country as an affordable destination for regional travelers.
The global financial crisis and political unrest in Thailand had both contributed to the lower-than-expected figures, officials said.
In 2008, more than 2.1 million foreign visitors came to Cambodia, a 6 percent rise over the previous year that was about 10 percent lower than expected, Kong Sopheareak, head of the statistics department at the Ministry of Tourism, said Monday.
"First, the global financial crisis, and another thing was the political crisis in Thailand, both of which affected us," he said.
More than a third of all tourists coming to Cambodia travel through Thailand, while another third come through Vietnam and about 3 percent come through Laos, he said. The rest arrive from other countries, he said.
About 60 percent of tourists come by plane, he continued, and about 4 percent are "same day" visitors.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Monday the ministry was pushing for even more visitors in 2009, including promoting the country as an affordable destination for regional travelers.
6 comments:
600 000 of the 2.1 millions are Yuons..
Are these Yuons are really tourists ?
Will be the slave of Yuons ?
Khmer Canadian
Yes, I agree with Mr. 2:11AM,
Western foreigners are busy, have no much times of vocation to contribute this number 2.1 millions. Mr. Statistic! why don't you justify all those countries?
Red-Ant against termite.
i think one way to correct this is to have cambodia build larger airports to handle long haul flights and other direct flights from europe, the USA, japan, australia, the middle east, etc... cambodia airports are still small in comparison to say changi in singapore or hong kong or manila, etc... remember the runway needs to be at least 3500 meters long/in length in order for it to be consider up to par with other worldly airports. my question is: can a boeing 747 land at phnom penh international or siem reap-angkor international? probably not! so, i hope cambodia is considering fixing this discrepancy. god bless cambodia.
it will be more disappointing in 2009 due to economic problems and Cambodia rely on neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietname for their international Airport. When will the CPP government start to think for the benefits of Cambodia and it people by building our own international airport and raillinks? so other countries can fly directly into Cambodia instead of going to Cambodia via another country?
Crimes is the problems..i thinks! co'z there's alot of robbery going on in the country right now, people have no jobs period! alot of young people can't find the jobs?, even they have high degree..Well, unless you have some kind of connections? that what i hate about cambodia...connections or paid someone to hook you up in that jobs! I knew a guy study to be a pilot here in Minnesota,MN he got his master degree, and all the training hours...eveythings, but after 9/11 american refuse to hire him..i don't know why?, so he went to cambodia, he wanted to work there and help the country that what he told me..but they(cambodia) refuse to hire him, even he had degree from UNITED STATE, he told me if he had $20,000.00 to pay them..he'll get the job!! He/I were orphans in K.I.D CAMP 1979..
The disturbing thing is that after Cambodia spends all this money on advertising to attract tourist, they only stay for one or two days then move on to Vietnam or Thailand.I guess after they have seen the Tonlie Sap Sewer system and the Riverside Rubbish Dump they have seen enough.
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