Posted on 18 November 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 587
“Phnom Penh: The global financial crisis and the internal political crisis in Thailand, which led to the Cambodian-Thai border disputes, are the major reasons, seen by expert officials, that makes the number of tourists to Cambodia decline. The decline in the number of tourists during the starting tourism season in Siem Reap, an important economic center, is directly affecting the everyday livelihood of those providing tourism services in this former capital of Angkor.
“The Minister of Tourism recognized that the global financial crisis and the confrontation with Thailand in the Preah Vihear region slows the number of tourists to Cambodia down, but Cambodia will make all efforts to guarantee the safety of tourists, and to promote the further growth of tourism.
“Mr. Tan Bunchhay, a taxi driver of a three-wheeler moto – which is mostly known as a Tuk-Tuk – said, ‘Every year, during November, there were many tourists to carry…, but this year it is not so, and it is somewhat difficult to cover the needs of the everyday economy.’ This driver and many other people, whose jobs are to directly provide tourism services, are facing difficulties in their daily livelihood, because the number of tourists visiting the region of this former capital declines, making it difficult for them to find income to support their families.
“As for Mr. Theng Lay, who is also a three-wheeler moto taxi driver, posted in front of a hotel in Siem Reap, complained similarly that it is difficult to earn one’s everyday living, because the number of drivers increased, while the number of tourists does not increase much. It is reported that there are at least more than 2,000 drivers in Siem Reap. Moreover, also, hotel services and restaurants face the lack of tourists. There were many tourists during this month last year, and the provision of services was hectic.
“The owner of the Mlub Tnot Angkor Restaurant ['Shade of Angkor Palm Trees'], Mr. Bun Try, noticed that the number of tourists during this season declined by approximately 20% compared to the same period last year. He said that this drop impacts badly on those earning their daily living depending on tourism.
“The loss of everyday jobs and income for the families is a consequence resulting from the decline in the number of tourists to Cambodia since July 2008.
“The president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, Mr. Ho Vandy, said that it is true that the confrontation between Khmer and Thai troops at the Preah Vihear Temple tourism site, the political turmoil in Thailand, and the global financial crisis - the biggest problem - are recognized as reasons contributing to the decrease in the number of tourists visiting Cambodia in 2008. Cambodia expects that there might be approximately 2.5 million tourists in 2008, while in 2007, Cambodia received more than 2.1 million tourists, earning more than US$1.7 billion for the national budget. However, the expectation to receive more than 2.5 million tourists might change.
“The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Thong Khon, said that the global financial crisis and the confrontation in the Preah Vihear region with Thailand slow down the growth of tourism in Cambodia. Mr. Thong Khon explained that for those earning their everyday living depending on tourism, they say that the global financial crisis is a problem for the whole world, and it needs to be handled globally, but the Cambodian government must take action to attract tourists, like by solving different depressing problems in the sector of tourism services, by building good infrastructure to different touristic sites around Cambodia, by dealing with the military confrontation along the border regions as soon as possible, as well as by organizing various events attracting more tourists to visit Cambodia. The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Thong Khon, added that at present, the Cambodian government is implementing new policies to attract the attention of tourists to visit Cambodia, specifically by publicizing the potential of tourism to Cambodia in different countries, such as in Russia and in Arab countries, to add to the number of European tourists that is already big. Mr. Thong Khon pointed to the need to create new policies by the government to develop tourism to grow continually in the future.
“Nevertheless, the Cambodian government and those earning their daily living depending on tourism, especially in Siem Reap in the Angkor region, are optimistic that the number of tourists might increase again after the black cloud of the global financial crisis will have gone, and their livelihood might become richer again, while some three-wheeler moto drivers had already announced to sell their vehicles, because there are no tourists to be carried, which makes it impossible for them to find income to support their families, and some restaurants have to be closed temporarily, because there are no guests.
“According to the numbers mentioned by the Ministry of Tourism for the nine months of 2008, there were more than 1.5 million tourists to Cambodia; there was only a 10% increase compared to last year. The Cambodian government expects that foreign tourists might increase to not more than 2.2 million in 2008.”
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #140, 16-17.11.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 17 November 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 587
“Phnom Penh: The global financial crisis and the internal political crisis in Thailand, which led to the Cambodian-Thai border disputes, are the major reasons, seen by expert officials, that makes the number of tourists to Cambodia decline. The decline in the number of tourists during the starting tourism season in Siem Reap, an important economic center, is directly affecting the everyday livelihood of those providing tourism services in this former capital of Angkor.
“The Minister of Tourism recognized that the global financial crisis and the confrontation with Thailand in the Preah Vihear region slows the number of tourists to Cambodia down, but Cambodia will make all efforts to guarantee the safety of tourists, and to promote the further growth of tourism.
“Mr. Tan Bunchhay, a taxi driver of a three-wheeler moto – which is mostly known as a Tuk-Tuk – said, ‘Every year, during November, there were many tourists to carry…, but this year it is not so, and it is somewhat difficult to cover the needs of the everyday economy.’ This driver and many other people, whose jobs are to directly provide tourism services, are facing difficulties in their daily livelihood, because the number of tourists visiting the region of this former capital declines, making it difficult for them to find income to support their families.
“As for Mr. Theng Lay, who is also a three-wheeler moto taxi driver, posted in front of a hotel in Siem Reap, complained similarly that it is difficult to earn one’s everyday living, because the number of drivers increased, while the number of tourists does not increase much. It is reported that there are at least more than 2,000 drivers in Siem Reap. Moreover, also, hotel services and restaurants face the lack of tourists. There were many tourists during this month last year, and the provision of services was hectic.
“The owner of the Mlub Tnot Angkor Restaurant ['Shade of Angkor Palm Trees'], Mr. Bun Try, noticed that the number of tourists during this season declined by approximately 20% compared to the same period last year. He said that this drop impacts badly on those earning their daily living depending on tourism.
“The loss of everyday jobs and income for the families is a consequence resulting from the decline in the number of tourists to Cambodia since July 2008.
“The president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, Mr. Ho Vandy, said that it is true that the confrontation between Khmer and Thai troops at the Preah Vihear Temple tourism site, the political turmoil in Thailand, and the global financial crisis - the biggest problem - are recognized as reasons contributing to the decrease in the number of tourists visiting Cambodia in 2008. Cambodia expects that there might be approximately 2.5 million tourists in 2008, while in 2007, Cambodia received more than 2.1 million tourists, earning more than US$1.7 billion for the national budget. However, the expectation to receive more than 2.5 million tourists might change.
“The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Thong Khon, said that the global financial crisis and the confrontation in the Preah Vihear region with Thailand slow down the growth of tourism in Cambodia. Mr. Thong Khon explained that for those earning their everyday living depending on tourism, they say that the global financial crisis is a problem for the whole world, and it needs to be handled globally, but the Cambodian government must take action to attract tourists, like by solving different depressing problems in the sector of tourism services, by building good infrastructure to different touristic sites around Cambodia, by dealing with the military confrontation along the border regions as soon as possible, as well as by organizing various events attracting more tourists to visit Cambodia. The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Thong Khon, added that at present, the Cambodian government is implementing new policies to attract the attention of tourists to visit Cambodia, specifically by publicizing the potential of tourism to Cambodia in different countries, such as in Russia and in Arab countries, to add to the number of European tourists that is already big. Mr. Thong Khon pointed to the need to create new policies by the government to develop tourism to grow continually in the future.
“Nevertheless, the Cambodian government and those earning their daily living depending on tourism, especially in Siem Reap in the Angkor region, are optimistic that the number of tourists might increase again after the black cloud of the global financial crisis will have gone, and their livelihood might become richer again, while some three-wheeler moto drivers had already announced to sell their vehicles, because there are no tourists to be carried, which makes it impossible for them to find income to support their families, and some restaurants have to be closed temporarily, because there are no guests.
“According to the numbers mentioned by the Ministry of Tourism for the nine months of 2008, there were more than 1.5 million tourists to Cambodia; there was only a 10% increase compared to last year. The Cambodian government expects that foreign tourists might increase to not more than 2.2 million in 2008.”
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #140, 16-17.11.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 17 November 2008
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