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National airplane to expand its flights

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:35:00 +0000

In order to boost Cambodian economy and tourism sector, Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA), which is national airplane set up last July in a joint venture between the Cambodian government and Vietnam Airlines, will buy two new planes in order to expand its flights network to South Korea, Japan and China.

Two planes set to purchase are 168-seat Airbus 321s, according to a price list compiled by the French maker cost about USD95.5 million each.

Soy Sokhan, undersecretary of state at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, the organisation in charge of the Cambodian side of CAA, said yesterday that the purchases were planned for “late 2010 or early 2011”, reported the Post.

The company’s initial investment was worth USD100 million under a 30-year-agreement. And there are only two planes-ATR-72 aircraft and an Airbus 321- operating in 16 daily flights serving Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City.

Cambodia applied for the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches Club

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:19:45 +0000

Tourism industry is one of the main sectors to increase the national revenue from foreign tourists who like visiting historic sites, eco-tourism and beaches. By the way, Cambodia’s beaches have 450km of coastline stretching from Koh Kong to Kep province, recognized by an international body.

Cambodia applied for membership t an organization called the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches Club on April 30, which was established in Berlin in 1997, and certified 30 beaches in 22 member countries.

Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, said during the meeting held in Preah Sihanouk late last week that “we hope Cambodia’s beaches will be officially recognized as member of the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches Club next year because our coastal area has protected natural resources which are a big attraction, reported by the Post.

To become a member, a country must fulfill requirements, which include requiring its beach to have projects in place to protect natural resources, be an attractive natural area and have the potential for economic development.

Economy Undergoing a Rebound: ADB

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:01:00 +0000

The Asian Development Bank said Tuesday it expects an economic rebound for Cambodia in 2010, with growth moving from 4.5 percent this year to 6 percent in 2011.

The recovery was driven by the country’s main economic pillars: agriculture, construction, garments and tourism, ADB officials said Tuesday, as they released the bank’s economic outlook for the year.

“Garments, tourism and construction have all apparently turned the corner in the first quarter of this year,” Eric Sidgwick, a senior economist at the ADB, told reporters. “And if there are further improvements in irrigation, seed and fertilizer use, one could hope that agricultural production could be a bit higher this year than last year. So the prospects of the year look good.”

Garments were boosted by an increase in US retail market demand in the first quarter of the year, while tourist arrivals for the same period increased, especially with visitors from China and South Korea. The recoveries of the economies in Asia are expected to bolster Cambodia’s construction sector, as more investors return after the global downturn.

Ros Silva, deputy director general of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said Tuesday the government had forecast the same figures for growth this year and next. The growth follows a recession in 2009, when the economy shrank 2 percent.

But Sidgwick said Tuesday international competition will increase in the next year, requiring the government to focus on the promotion of the private sector, integrated regional and global markets and effective economic policy.

Source: VOA Khmer

PM called for direct flights from Indonesia

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:43:47 +0000

In order to increase revenue from tourism sector in Cambodia, Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Sen had a meeting with Indonesia’s House of Regional Representatives Deputy Director Laode Ida in Phnom Penh on Thursday.

The premier also appealed for direct flights between Cambodia between Cambodia and Indonesia as soon as possible.

The Phnom Penh Post quoted Tith Chantha, director general at the ministry of tourism, as saying that the technical teams from both countries are finalizing the process, with flights between Siem Reap and Borobudur on Java expected from April.

Cambodia appealed its citizens not to travel to Thailand

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:55:54 +0000

Cambodia’s government has warned its citizens not to travel to Thailand before Thailand’s Supreme Court issue a decision on whether to seize $2.2 billion from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry of foreign affair, was quoted by the VOA Khmer as saying that “those who live there should avoid demonstrations and gatherings, to avoid any danger.”

Most of the poor Cambodian people always cross the border in order to find work in Thailand every day, as estimated 200,000 Cambodians are employed in Thailand.

The diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Thailand were cut off after ousted premier Thaksin was appointed as adviser to Cambodia’s government and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

First new aircraft bought by CAA

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:28:39 +0000

Cambodia Angkor Airline [CAA] is a joint venture between Cambodian government and Vietnam Airline, which was launched in late July last year. Cambodia’s government owns 51 percent by forming a 30-year-agreement worth an initial investment of $100 million.

Recently, CAA bought a new-brand ATR-72 aircraft, which was manufactured by a French-Italian company. After launching, it has hired two ATR-72 and an Airbus A-320 from its joint-venture partner.

At the present, CAA has five flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province, and three daily flights between Siem Reap to Saigon and other two flights from Phnom Penh to Saigon per day.

Soy Sokhan, under-secretary at the Secretariat of Civil Aviation, who oversees CAA matters, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying that “we brought a brand-new ATR-72 to get it registered for an AOC on February 12. It is currently being operated on the Phnom Penh-to-Siem Reap route.”

Direct flights from Russia next year

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:46:58 +0000

In a bid to increase the foreign tourists to visit Cambodia, recently the government also makes its efforts and possibility to seek the direct flights from developed and industrialized countries. The tourism sector is the kind of tourism industry to make more income for the nation.

Russian delegates from the two largest Russian airlines, Aeroflot Russian Airlines and S7 Airlines, will meet Cambodian Civil Aviation Authorities in order to seek the possibility of direct flights between Russia and Cambodia to be set to begin next year or 2011 at the least, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

“When we reach the agreement, the Russian civil aviation will officially allow the two popular airlines to fly to both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap,” Dilyara Borovi, Embassy Councilor, was quoted by the Post.

She added that the two airlines already service Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam directly from Russia. She added that connecting flights from Vietnam to Cambodia would also be discussed in the future.

According to the figures from the Ministry of Tourism, the number of Russian visitors increased from 12,885 to 13,861in the first 10 months of 2009, compared to the same period last year.

National carrier made profit

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:29:16 +0000

Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA) which is the joint venture between the Cambodian government and Vietnam Airlines made its maiden flight since July 28 by flying between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and it also flies to Ho Chi Minh City.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said last week that Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA) made profit ahead of schedule but it was expected that the airline to make losses for two years. He added that now the airline is making profit because a lot of passengers are using it.

Soy Sokhan, undersecretary of state in charge of CAA at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, also did not give earnings figures. But he said the five-month-old airline had boosted its load factor from a low of 25 percent in July to between 80 percent and 90 percent – pushing the airline into the black, reported The Phnom Penh Post.

Philippine direct flights to Cambodia next year

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:09:18 +0000

According to the memorandum of understanding between Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Sept 16 to open the airways between two nations, Cebu Pacific Air, plans to begin its direct flight to Cambodia from its home in 2010.

Thong Khon, Tourism Minister, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post saying that the Philippines is a major tourism hub in Southeast Asia, adding that the deal would draw more tourists directly from the Philippines as well as offer another transfer point for tourists traveling from other locations.

The global economic recession affected Cambodia’s tourism industry. According to the ministry’s report, Cambodia’s main international airports, Phnom Penh and Siam Reap, dropped 12.96 percent in the first nine months of year of 2009. But there were 36,608 visitors from the Philippines in this period of 2009.

According to the Post, SSCA Cabinet Chief Long Chheng said the two sides were currently working on ironing out the details of the flights. “I am not sure of the exact date the flights will commence because I have received no confirmation,” he said, adding that an Air Service Agreement (ASA) still must to be signed by both parties.

Drop in tourists to Preah Vihear temple

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:57:12 +0000

During the last three months to the end of September, the number of visitors who have visited at Preah Vihear temple declined by a quarter in comparison with the same period of the last year. The drop in the tourism arrival is because of fears of influenza A(H1N1) and a reaction to Cambodia to be ownership of the temple listed as World Heritage site last year.

The global economic recession hit Cambodia’s sectors such as garment industries, real estate and construction and tourism sector. Recently, the out-break of Swine flu is fearing foreign tourists to travel to Cambodia.

More than one year-long border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is also affecting trade and tourism as well. Tourists cannot enter within Cambodia to visit the temple from Thailand after armed row between the both nations.

The Phnom Penh Post quoted Kong Vibol, director of Preah Vihear province’s Tourism Department as saying that only 12,214 tourists travel to the temple complex over the last quarter, down 33.93 percent from 18,487 visitors over the same period a year earlier.

Foreign visitors were down 44.6 percent to 426, and domestic tourists dropped 34.04 percent to 11,788, Tourism Department figures showed, said he.

Khmer News: Cambodia news | Cambodian economy | Banking sector | Agricutlure | Technology | Education » Tourism

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