Sep
10
|
Cambodia’s Tourism Increases in the First Seven Months of 2012
|
|
In the first seven months of 2012, foreign arrivals to Cambodia were more than two millions, up from 1.62 million over the same period last year.
Herewith, the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism has set a target of receiving 3.3 million foreign tourists in 2012, 4.5 million in 2015 and 7 million in 2020.
The growth of foreign tourists to Cambodia is thanks to the country enjoying peace and safety, mainly hosting the big international events such as ASEAN meetings, said a senior official of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA).
They came to Cambodia in the manner of family visit, package tour, business, and foreign guests, he said, adding that Vietnam took the first rank among foreign arrivals to Cambodia.
Tourism industry is one of the four major pillars supporting the economy of Cambodia. Last year, the tourism sector gave jobs to 800,000 Cambodians, generating a turnover of nearly two million dollars equal to 12% of the country’s gross domestic product.
|
|
|
|
Sep
10
|
Angkor Wat receives $250k for preservation
|
|
Temple conservation projects are thriving as Angkor Wat nears its 20th anniversary of its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site later this year, heritage representatives said yesterday.
“I could not imagine that after almost 20 years I would see this same level of enthusiasm and dedication,” said UNESCO country director Anne Lemaistre after representatives from the Cambodian Apsara Authority and UNESCO’s Cambodia office agreed to put US$250,000 toward ongoing preservation of the world-famous temple complex.
This agreement will initiate phase two of a repair and maintenance project started in 2005 by an Italian government-funded team that has worked on temples in the area since 1994.
Deputy Prime Minister and Apsara National Authority President Sok An said after the signing that $200,000 will come from the Italian government, and $50,000 will come from the Cambodian government.
The project will repair the flood-damaged west embankment of Angkor Wat’s moat and a staircase by the moat, said Valter Maria Santoro, head of Italy’s temple maintenance technical mission.
Santoro headed to Siem Reap as soon as the meeting ended to continue what Lemaistre called “a life-long commitment”.
Lemaistre said she has seen such engagement from all of Angkor Wat’s restoration teams, which according to Sok An have come from 14 countries and 28 organisations to work on more than 60 projects since 1993.
“It’s really a partnership now,” Lemaistre said, noting that the addition of Cambodian experts to the project “increases the ownership of Cambodia”.
Lemaistre praised Italy for its commitment in the face of its financial crisis, though Santoro noted that their contributions have decreased in recent years.
According to Sok An, Cambodia is more than ready to host the 37th annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee next year.
|
|
|
|
|
Sep
10
|
Cambodia, UNESCO sign agreement to continue safeguarding Angkor Wat Temple
|
|
P The Government of Cambodia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday signed an agreement on safeguarding of the Angkor Wat Temple, one of the World Heritage sites.
The deal was inked between Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, and Anne Lemaistre, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia.
The two-year phase II project will be focused on the restoration of an extension span of the moat embankment at the Angkor Wat Temple, said Rome University's Professor Valter Maria Santoro, head of the Italian technical mission for stone consolidation in the temple.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Sok An said that the second phase project will cost 250,000 U.S. dollars including 200, 000 U.S. dollars granted by Italian government and 50,000 U.S. dollars by Cambodian government.
He said that Italian government, through UNESCO, has involved in helping safeguard the Angkor Wat Temple since 1994.
"The continuous support signifies a further cooperation among Cambodia, UNESCO and Italy," he said.
Sok An said currently, Cambodia has been collaborating with 14 countries and 28 international teams in implementing over 60 different projects to preserve, safeguard and develop the temple.
Anne Lemaistre said, "UNESCO is proud to help Cambodia in the preservation and conservation of the World Heritage site of Angkor. "
Angkor archeological park was inscribed in the World Heritage list on Dec. 14, 1992.
It is the country's largest cultural tourism destination; it is located in Siem Reap province, some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
The site had attracted 1.06 million foreign tourists in the first six months of this year, up 35 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Tourism Ministry.
|
|
|
|
|
Party over for Cambodia's daytime discos
|
|
10/09/2012 11:15:45
|
|
|
|
People pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh
|
|
10/09/2012 11:01:08
|
|
|
|
Hoang Su Phi terraced fields - new national heritage
|
|
10/09/2012 10:51:49
|
|
|
|
Vietnamese culture to be introduced in France
|
|
10/09/2012 10:50:47
|
|
|
|
European culinary festival held in HCM City
|
|
10/09/2012 10:49:11
|
|
|
|
ASEAN nations promote tourism in HCM city
|
|
10/09/2012 10:48:01
|
|
|
|
Bac Giang to organise Culture, Sports and Tourism festival
|
|
10/09/2012 10:39:58
|
|
|
|
Cheap fares at Vietnam Airlines
|
|
10/09/2012 10:36:57
|
|
|
|
Caravan visitors deeply impressed by Hue
|
|
10/09/2012 10:36:02
|
|
|
|