Cambodia agrees to lease five islands in the Gulf of Thailand

Cambodia has agreed to lease five islands in the Gulf of Thailand for $627 million to local and foreign investors who plan to build tourist resorts, the state investment agency said on Monday.

'The projects will become a magnet for tourism. These projects will create natural resorts which are popular with foreign tourists,' Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said in a statement.

Cham Prasidh, who is also deputy chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), said the six Cambodian companies that signed the long-term leases will have one year to submit detailed plans for the resorts.

It named the six firms, but did not disclose their foreign investors.

Cambodia's fast-growing tourism industry is seen as another sign of the former French colony's recovery from the destruction wrought by the Khmer Rouge during their four years in power from 1975 to 1979.

Cambodia attracted more than 1.7 million tourists last year, most of them drawn to the 800-year-old Angkor Wat temple complex. But it wants to lure beachgoers as well.

In September last year, a group of Russian investors received approval to build a $300 million tourist resort on Koh Pos (Snake Island) in the Gulf of Thailand.
Source: travelmole

Cambodia gives permission for companies to build tourist resorts on islands

Cambodia's government has given its permission for six local and foreign companies to develop tourist resorts worth up to US$627 million (€460 million) on islands off the country's coast, officials said Monday.

Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh, who is also vice chairman of the Cambodian Investment Board, signed agreements in principle with the companies last Friday, said Long Sakhan, president of one of the companies.

She said her real estate firm, Vimean Seila Ltd., received permission to build a hotel and resort on a 420-hectare (1,037-acre) area of an island off Kampot province, 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh.

She said another Cambodian company and four other foreign firms are planning to develop similar tourist resorts on four islands off the coast of Sihanoukville, a port 185 kilometers (115 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh.

A Cambodian Investment Board official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, confirmed the signing of the agreements, under which the companies will be able to lease areas on the islands for up to 99 years.

He said the companies' initial investment plans would amount to US$627 million (€460 million).

Tourism is a major hard currency earner for the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

The government has recently been promoting the country's coastal region as a new tourist destination. Early this year, it reopened an airport in Sihanoukville in a bid to attract tourists, who have so far mostly flocked to the centuries-old Angkor temples in Siem Reap province in the northwest.

Last year, it granted permission for a Russian-run company to develop Koh Pos, or Snake Island, near Sihanoukville into a tourist resort with an initial investment of up to US$300 million (€220 million).

Source: iht.com

Indian tourism chief meets with Indonesian investors

Indonesia's tourism minister wants Indonesian investors to know one thing--her country, with an expected 10 million foreign tourists by 2010, is ripe for investing.

India’s Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni recently met with a high level 15-member Indonesian parliamentarian delegation, led by Vice Speaker of the Commissioner Abdul Hakam Naja, in New Delhi.

During their one hour meeting, Minister Soni told the visiting delegation about the steps taken India to promote domestic as well as international tourism in the country, according to India Travel Online. In attracting the visiting Indonesian investors to invest in the hotel industry in India, Minister Soni said more than 4.43 million tourists visited India in the year 2006 and that country is projecting 10 million foreign tourists by 2010.

The Indian minister also told the group that 100 percent foreign direct investment is allowed in hotel sector in India and already US$6.5 billion is in the pipeline in hotel construction. Minister Soni also told the Indonesian investors about measures being taken to ease travel into India.

According to the Indian official, plans are being made to allow visa on arrival facility in Delhi and Mumbai airports once these airports are upgraded and modernized. Also, the move to give visa on arrival by the government will get facilitated with airlines giving advance passenger information to security agencies.

Further, the minister told the Indonesian delegation that some of the areas of cooperation between the two countries that could be strengthened are human resource development in tourism sector, capacity building, participation in tourism marts and fairs, exchange of travel correspondents and writers, and holding of exhibitions of art and culture in each other’s country.

India and Indonesia can contribute significantly in promoting regional cooperation in Asia-Pacific region in the tourism sector, Minister Soni said.

Source: India Travel Online

Getting Good Response for ITE HCMC 2007 Show

About 100 International Buyers already registered for Travel Trade Show 2007 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The tourism is booming in Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City. This is manifested in the response to Travel Trade Show, ITE HCMC 2007. About 100 international buyers registered and more than 80% of the hall capacity is sold for the coming exhibition which will be held on 5-7 October 2007 at Phu Tho Exhibition Center, HCMC.

ITE HCMC 2007, the only travel trade show in Vietnam, is expected to max out the full hall capacity by October 2007 with a growth of 40% over 2006 event. The number of international buyers registered now is 82 from 20 countries. In order to assist exhibitors/sellers better prepared to welcome the expected 120 international buyers, the organizers are holding an Exhibitor Briefing on 1st August 2007, two months before the event at Majestic hotel for over 100 exhibitor personnel.

“The Seminar will equip the exhibitors with basic knowledge and know how to handle international buyers and to optimize their participation at the exhibition in October” remarked Mr Alex Eow, President of Binet Exhibition Pte Ltd.

The number of registered buyers will be increased from 59 last year to 120 this year. The number of countries represented will be increased to 20. This will present tremendous opportunity to the tourism stakeholders in Vietnam, particularly HCMC to meet, market, sell to
the international buyers in 3 days.

“That we are able to reach this scale of buyer registration two months before the event is largely due to the strategic alliance with our 8 partner airlines, namely, Vietnam Airlines, Qatar airlines, Singapore Airlines, Eva Airways, Korean Airlines, Jetstar Asia, Philippines Airlines and United Airlines. The government truly appreciated their participation and contribution” commented Mdm Dong Thi Kim Vui, Director of DOT HCMC.

This is the first time we unveil the JEWELs of the MEKONG – the charms of Three Countries One Destination (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam), with the strong support of Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia, Laotian National Tourism Administration, and VNAT. The related Hotel and Travel associations in 3 countries are actively promoting the event to their industry, resulting good growth in size of the show and attention in the international market.

ITE HCMC 2007 is sponsored by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and supported by Ministry of Trade and People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. It is jointly organized by HCMC Department of Tourism, Vinexad and Binet Exhibitions Pte Ltd.

For those interested to participate in the seminar briefing, please call us at 822 4207 for registration to avoid disappointment.

BINET Exhibitions Pte Ltd

Ms Chong Kam Lin
Tel : (84) 8 822 4207

Mobile : (84) 903 693 824

Email : kamlin@binetexpo.com

HCMC Department of Tourism
Mr Tran Minh Cong
Tel : (84) 8 824 2903 x 172
Mobile : (84) 903 600 620

Email : congtran.minh@gmail.com

For Event Details check the site: http://www.itehcmc.com/

Dumaguete City, Philippines

Dumaguete City: The City of Gentle People

Dumaguete City is the capital, principal seaport , and largest city of Negros Oriental province.

It is known as a university town; as a gateway to some of the best dive sites in the country; and as the City of Gentle People because of the endearing qualities of its residents: friendly, mild mannered, warm, innately hospitable, and speaking in a gently sweet Visayan accent.

Visitors to Dumaguete are forewarned that a short stay might end up as a long love affair with the city.

History

"Dumaguete" was coined from the Visayan word "daggit" which means "to snatch". Because of the frequent marauding attacks of Muslim pirates on the coastal town, and the power to attract and keep her visitors for good, the word "dumaguet", meaning "to swoop," was christened to the village of Dumaguete.

However, Diego Lopez Povedano in 1572 indicated the place as "Dananguet." But in 1734, Murillo Velarde referred to it, using its present name, as Dumaguete.

In 1890, the island-province of Negros was divided into two politico-military provinces, Occidental and Oriental. As earlier constituted, in 1898, Dumaguete was included in Negros Oriental. On May 1, 1901 after the Philippine-American War, the Americans established a civil government in the province.

When World War II broke out, the Japanese Imperial Forces occupied the city on May 26, 1942. It was liberated on April 26, 1945 by the combined forces of the U.S. Army and the Filipino guerrillas. Three years later, on June 15, 1948, by virtue of Republic Act No. 327, the City of Dumaguete was created. Later, on June 21, 1969, Republic Act No. 5797 was enacted, otherwise known as the Revised Charter of Dumaguete City.

Geography and Climate

The City has a land area of 34.26 sq km, situated on the plains of the southeastern coast of Negros Island near the mouth of the Banica River. Of the province's 20 municipalities and 5 cities, Dumaguete City is the smallest in terms of land area. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Sibulan; on the south by the municipality of Bacong; and on the west by the municipality of Valencia. As a coastal city, it is bounded on the east by the Mindanao Sea and the Tañon Strait, serving as a natural border to the neighboring provinces of Cebu and Siquijor.

The city's topography is generally flat from two to six kilometers from the shoreline. It slopes gently upwards to the adjoining municipality of Valencia. The highest ground elevation is located at the boundary of the municipality of Valencia, about one hundred meters above mean sea level. About 93% of the land have slopes of less than 3%. The remaining areas have 3% to 5% slope.

Dumaguete City has two seasons, namely; the dry and the wet seasons. The wet season covers the period from June to November, and the dry season starts from December to May, the hottest being April and May. The average maximum temperature is 34.3 °C and the average minimum temperature is 22.9 °C for the past years. The relative humidity of the locality for the past years was 78% with the month of December registering the highest.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 102,265 people and 21,582 households residing in the city. This makes it the most populous city in Negros Oriental, comprising 9.05% of the province's total population. Unlike the national profile, the male population is 6% more than the female population.

Economy

Dumaguete enjoys a vibrant economy brought about by the influx of investors in the business process outsourcing and other industries. TeleTech, one of the world's largest call center firms, and SPi, one of the world's leading BPO companies, are the two large ITES firms operating in Dumaguete. Robinsons Land Corporation, a major mall operator in the Philippines, has started the construction of a new mall located on a 6-hectare lot in Calindagan, south of downtown Dumaguete. There is also an upsurge in the number of tourists arriving in the City of Dumaguete and nearby areas.

The academe pumps in more than P2 billion of economic activity into the city annually.

University Town

The city's ambience and tranquil, moderate way of life make it conducive to learning and intellectual pursuits. The city has become a melting pot of students, professionals, artists, scholars and the literati coming from different parts of the country and the world. It has earned the distinction of being known as “the center of learning in Southern Philippines” because of the presence of seven universities and colleges that have made their mark locally and internationally.

Silliman University is the dominant institution of higher learning in Dumaguete. Established in 1901 by Protestant missionaries from the USA, it is the oldest Protestant university in the country and the oldest American-established university in Asia. Starting as an elementary school, it soon rised to become a university in 1938. Since then, students coming from all around the world have called Dumaguete their home while acquiring that coveted degree. The 610,000 sq meter campus is adjacent to and intermixed with the city’s downtown district.

Other universities located in the city are Foundation University, Negros Oriental State University, and a branch of the Saint Paul Universities (Philippines).

There are also many colleges in the city, including a branch of AMA Computer College and AMA ACLC, a branch of the Asian College of Science and Technology (commonly known as ACSAT), a branch of STI College, a branch of the Maximo College, the Metro Dumaguete College and Colegio de Santa Catalina (popularly known as COSCA).

The city's student population is estimated at 30,000.

Dumaguete City Tourist Spots and Landmarks

Since sightseers and tourists pass through Dumaguete City when going to the lures and attractions of the province, the local government maintains a cooperative relationship with hotel operators, restaurant and resort owners in providing wholesome, clean and adequate service to visitors.

Travel agencies in the city also provide special travel packages to those who go to Dumaguete from Manila or Cebu and back. Special side trips are also available which take enthusiasts to whale and dolphin watching in Bais Bay, scuba diving in either Siquijor or Apo islands, mountain trekking in Mt. Talinis, spelunking in Mabinay, or just plain sightseeing in Valencia town.

The City Tourism Office also provides tourist assistance at the Dumaguete City airport and free tour-guide service to those who ask for it.

The Rizal Boulevard

Rizal Boulevard stretching right by the seacoast is the converging place in the city for people of all walks of life. Either jogging or simply strolling in the early morning watching the sun rise in the sea horizon; or at sun down enjoying the sea breeze as the color of the sky changes to pale orange until the string of lights lining the baywalk takes over.

When in Dumaguete City, one cannot simply miss this 780-meter strip of wide beachfront promenade. It runs almost entirely along the city’s commercial district and provides quite a refreshing and calming view when dining or having a drink at one of the many restaurants or bars lining the street.

It is a popular spot for family picnics and other outdoor activities. On Sundays, you can usually find revelers seated cross legged on the grass around their spread of food. Children have their time of day running around or clam digging on the seashore during low tides. On many occasions it becomes a venue for celebrating city festivals. During the day, the streets hold parades and dances while banca (sailboat) racing goes on at the beach. In the evening, it becomes a native food market. The wonderful aroma of grilled seafood and barbecue permeates the sea air. A band performs nearby while the beer continues to flow.

A quiet night outside on full moons calls for a romantic stroll after a taste of the boulevard’s action-packed night life. It is just a perfect way to end a pleasant evening soiree.

The Rizal Boulevard is undoubtedly one of the most visited places in the city. It was named after the famous Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who actually made a stopover here on his way to Dapitan where he was put in exile.

The Dumaguete Belfry

The bell tower of St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral was constructed in 1811. Other than informing townsfolk of daily mass schedules, it also served as a watchtower for forthcoming attacks by aggressors.

An old landmark of the city and mute witness to the city's history when pirates from the Mindanao used to come and kidnap beautiful local maidens in the late 18th century. Built between 1774 and 1776, the belfry stood and served as a watchtower, alerting village people of marauding pirates when its bell was rung. Improvements were made on the belfry in 1885 together with the renovation of the church and convent.

The Dumaguete Belfry was restored in 1985 and since then has become a very popular landmark. A garden now surrounds the tower and a grotto of the Virgin Mary stands erect near the base. Devotees flock daily to light a candle for their prayer requests or for confirmation of their faith.

Silliman University

The pride of Dumaguete, Silliman University is a vast 61-hectare land located at the very heart of the city. Built in 1901, it first started with less than 10 students and a makeshift classroom. Today it is one of the best and biggest universities in the Philippines.

The Silliman Hall

The Silliman Hall is the oldest known building in the campus. It was erected in 1903 when the need for additional classrooms arose. Today, it serves as a museum and a venue for university dinner conferences and the like.

The Silliman University Library

In the year 1978, construction began for this 3 storey building using funds donated by the USAID foundation or the United States of America through the office of American International Development. It was finished within one year, and formally inaugurated on August 28, 1979. It still remains to be one of the biggest libraries in the Philippines.

Katipunan Hall (Mission Hospital)

Once the City Mission Hospital, Katipunan Hall is now converted into classrooms and educational departments. Interestingly enough, much of the hospital’s original structure has been retained.

The Mission Hospital was established in December, 1915 by Dr. Langheim and his wife who was also a nurse. They were the pioneers of medical missionary work in Negros Oriental, and both of them were also educators at the school.

The Dumaguete City Public Market

In the bustling downtown area is the city market filled with tiny stalls and rows of tables stacked with local fresh produce.

Meat and vegetables are usually freshest in the early morning hours. Fishermen from neighboring towns also bring in their catch during this time. Dumaguete's Fish and Vegetable-market is even famous as the cleanest in the area. Next to fish, meat and vegetables they also sell fruits, flowers, rice and the lot of accessories. Even service as beauty salons can be found.

The public market can be a bit noisy and a tad cluttered because of so many people coming in and out of the building. Other products that could be sourced from there include pots and pans, baskets, brooms and other cleaning agents, plastic products, livestock feeds, even freshwater pearls, watches and gold jewelry.

Every Sunday morning between 5 and 7 there is a pre-market, where farmers coming from the far areas of the island try to sell their vegetables and fruits. You have to get up early but it is nice and colorful.

Angtay Golf Club, Bantayan, Dumaguete City

The proximity of Angtay Golf Club makes it convenient for all golf enthusiasts in the city to practice their swings after work at the office. In the late afternoons, it is a common sight to find junior golfers lining up for training sessions as well.

With the 9-hole course, Angtay Golf Club has a function room and a restaurant serving good food. It is also a perfect setting for wedding receptions and children’s parties. It has a spacious parking area with security guard.

The Christmas House, Amigo Subdivision, Dumaguete City

The Christmas House is a one-of-a-kind legacy initiated by Dr. Rico Absin, an anesthesiologist in the city. For the past 18 years, visiting the Christmas House has become a tradition for all Dumagueteños.

Each year for the past 18 years all the young and the young-at-heart flock to the bedecked Spanish mansion of one Dr. Rico Absin, a practicing anesthesiologist in his early 50s, who has successfully created an institution out of a genuine passion for art and decoration.

Gateway to the Best Philippine Dive Sites

The Area have some of the best dive sites in the world namely Apo Island and Sumilon Island. Having one of most diverse marine ecosystem in the World, divers converge in Apo Island to see the beautiful corals and marine life in this Marine Preserve managed by Silliman University.

Dolphin and whale watching in nearby Bais Bay, spelunking in Mabinay Cave System, and hiking to the three lakes on top of Mt Talinis are just some of the sights one can visit to make your visit in Dumaguete complete.

Festivals

Sandurot Festival is a joyful celebration of the people of Dumaguete, their innate hospitality, friendliness, and their propensity to live harmoniously with people of different race, religion, and cultural beliefs. Through the course of history and to the present time, the people of Dumaguete have always been known to welcome strangers from different shores and countries, and to live with them in complete peace and understanding. This is the innate trait of Dumagueteños celebrated by the Sandurot Festival.Held during the city fiesta in Novemeber at the Rizal Boulevard, the festival reenacts the coming of these foreigners and how, with dance and song, they were welcomed by the natives. It is participated in by city barangays and/or schools, with each contingent representing a foreign culture. The group, wearing the chosen country's native costume, will then perform an intricately choreographed dance, interpreting the meaning of "Sandurot", which means genuine unity and sharing. Santacruzan in Dumaguete is always a star-studded affair.

The Santacruzan in May is celebrated in such a unique way that it is not merely a parade of beautiful sagalas, but a re-enactment of religious and historical events.

Schools and universities in Dumaguete also have their own festivities that are crowd-drawers and eagerly waited by the Dumagueteños.

Silliman University, during its Founder's Day, is famous for its booths which are put up by the different student organizations in campus. Thousands flock to the SU grounds to see the displays during the week-long celebration. SU is also famous for its prestigious Miss Silliman Beauty Pageant.

Foundation University also has its Kasadyaan Festival held in December. The mardi gras parade is very colorful, the music and beat pulsating, and the dances heady and exciting.

Getting There

Philippine Airlines and other domestic carriers fly regularly from Manila to Dumaguete City, and vice versa. Travel time is one hour and a half. One can also travel by ship from Manila to Dumaguete. Travel time is 36 hours.

From Tagbilaran City, Bohol, you can reach the city through Supercat [fast craft] in an hour and a half. Fast ferry trips are daily.

Philippine Destinations wow Hong Kong Tourists

Department of Tourism (DOT) has won over the interest of tourists at the recent 2007 Hong Kong International Travel Expo as it highlighted the islands as the closest and most accessible playground for Hong Kong travelers.

The Philippine pavilion occupied 72 square meters strategically located at the exhibit hall, and carried the adventure and beach holiday theme. A tarsier mascot was a constant crowd pleaser and drew in queries on Bohol attractions and available tour packages. Other bundled tropical holidays to Palawan, Cebu and other major Philippine destinations were also showcased at the four-day event.

Bandang Kawayan gave the audience a sampling of Filipino ingenuity and culture by playing classical and popular songs on various hand-carved bamboo and narra instruments. Band conductor Professor Fred Calabig led the group of 15 young musicians. Goodwill ambassadors Hong Kong actress and singer Elanne Kwong, as well as commercial model and TV idol Law Chung Him, helped raise the excitement by dancing the tinikling.

The International Travel Expo in Hong Kong is considered one of the biggest global tourism fairs in Asia. The Philippines was one of the more than 600 international exhibitors coming from 60 countries and regions. An estimated 10,200 interested travelers and 500 representatives from the travel industry and media visited this year.

DOT Undersecretary for Special Concerns Phineas Alburo led the delegation comprised of DOT Asia Pacific Marketing Head Rica Bueno, members of her team and several representatives from the private sector.

Boracay Regency Beach Resort, Waterfront Hotels and Casinos, El Nido Resort, Pearl of the Pacific, Calypso Diving/Pinjalo Resort, Marco Polo Plaza and Richmonde Hotel presented their top-ranking facilities and accommodations. Meanwhile, representatives from the Philippine Tour Operators Association, Happy Sun Travel and Tours, Polo Air and Planet Holiday conducted tabletop discussions with other travel wholesalers at the expo. Carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific also attended.

The uniquely Filipino sights and sounds presented at the expo caught the attention of Hong Kong’s widely circulated newspapers such as the Hong Kong Economic Times, Apple Daily, Sing Tao Daily and Takunpao. Travel Life Magazine, a leading monthly publication among Chinese readers, published a special feature on Boracay in its summer issue.

A total of 37,453 tourists from Hong Kong came to the country from January to April 2007, becoming the 5th leading source of arrivals for this period. The current figure reflects a 14.4 percent increase from the recorded tally in the first four months of 2006.

Source: DOT, Philippines

U.S. Delegation Visits Preah Vihear Temple

At the recent meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Committee recognized that "the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear is of great international significance and has Outstanding Universal Value" and agreed "in principle" that the temple should be inscribed in the World Heritage List. The Committee also requested that Cambodia strengthen conservation and management at the site by "making progress in developing an appropriate management plan, which progress will enable its formal inscription by the Committee at its 32nd Session in 2008."

The U.S. fully supports the inscription of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List, and at the request of the Cambodian government, U.S. Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli recently traveled to Preah Vihear, along with a representative of the U.S. State Department's Cultural Heritage Center and other Embassy officials, to try to determine how the U.S. Government might be able to support the Royal Government of Cambodia in its efforts to develop a management plan for Preah Vihear. During the visit, Ambassador Mussomeli expressed his appreciation for the exceptional nature of the site and pledged to discuss Preah Vihear with other U.S. Government representatives during an upcoming trip to Washington.

Preah Vihear, dedicated to Shiva, is situated on a promontory of the Dangrek Range, 547m above the Cambodian Plain. The buildings were constructed in the first half of the 11th century AD and form the most important sanctuary built during the reign of King Suryavarman (1002-50), who seized power at Angkor around 1006. The southern extremity of the promontory juts out to form a natural recess that is a sacred place, commanding a vast panorama.

Like many Cambodian monuments, this sanctuary consists of a succession of courtyards on a common axis (though the north-south axis here is somewhat unusual). The axial plan is 800m long in which gopuras (gateway towers) and streets succeed one another on the way to the temple. To the north, a 54m monumental stairway with 159 steps leads to a 25m long pavement flanked by enormous rampant nagas (snakes). From here three steps reach the first of the five gopuras, which eventually leads to the main sanctuary enclosed by two groups of galleries laid out in a cloister form that foreshadows the "cruciform cloisters" of Angkor Wat.

The principal material of all the buildings at Preah Vihear is sandstone from the site itself. The finest decoration is to be found on the gopuras, many of which are in an excellent state of conservation and clearly visible. The composition of the sculptures on the lintels, pillars, pilasters and elsewhere are varied, complex, highly detailed and harmonious, representing Hindu gods and other religious figures such as Shiva, Vishnu, Indra and Krishna.

Source: Embassy News

U.S. supports Cambodia's bid to list Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage Site

The United States has expressed support for Cambodia's bid to officially register the Preah VihearTemple as world heritage site and will provide aid for its development and management plans, local media reported on Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli here on Wednesday told Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers Sok An that the temple has to be officially registered as world heritage site even if there is opposition from the third side, press official for the Council of Ministers Phan Sithan was quoted by English-language newspaper Cambodian Daily as saying.

The United States will send a group of experts to Cambodia to help organize the development and management plans for the temple's official registration as world heritage site and also provide grant aid to support the plans, he said.

Recently, Long Visalo, deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, told reporters that the world heritage committee of the United Nation's Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) asked Cambodia to organize the development and management plans for the Preah Vihear Temple after receiving the kingdom's request to list it as world heritage site.

The committee promised to decide whether the temple can be registered as world heritage site in early 2008. The Preah Vihear Temple was built from the 11th to the 12th century on top of the Dorng Rek Mountain in the northern part of Cambodia next to Thailand. Cambodia secured its ownership of the temple in 1962, out of fierce competition with Thailand.

Source: Xinhua

Visa data shows Bali and Phuket recovered

Visa says tourism has recovered from the tsunami

Spending with Visa cards has topped pre-tsunami levels in tourism destinations hit by the disaster, indicating complete recovery.

Tourism recovery in Bali and Phuket continued in the first half of 2007 according to Visa International cardholder spending data for the Asia Pacific region.

Visa International released its data for June 2007 which showed tourist spending with Visa cards in Bali and Phuket expanded 27% and 21% respectively over with the same period in 2006.

According to Visa, Bali visitor arrivals dropped 47% following the first terrorist bombing in 2002, and experienced a further decline after a second bombing in 2005. It was not until one year after the 2005 bombing that tourist spending with Visa cards returned to positive year-on-year growth, which has continued through June 2007. Bali accounted for 37% of all visitors to Indonesia .

Visitor spending with Visa cards in Phuket has also returned to positive ground after the December 2004 tsunami. In the month immediately following the disaster, Phuket saw an 89% drop in tourist arrivals. Visa data also revealed that spending in January 2005 tumbled 23% when compared with January 2004.

December 2004 visitor spending with Visa cards in Phuket was US$23 million. One year later, it had increased to US$31.5 million and in December 2006 it reached US$50 million. Of note, January 2007 tourist spending on Visa cards in Phuket hit its highest level since the 2004 tsunami with US$62 million in receipts.

However, not all other tourist destinations in the Asia Pacific region showed a similar recovery in Visa card spending. The company said tourist spending in Sri Lanka and the southernmost provinces of Thailand in the first half of 2007 remained below the level of the same period last year.

Thailand ’s southern provinces have been experiencing political and civil unrest in recent years. In the first half of 2007, the top five tourist markets in Southern Thailand combined for a year-on-year spending drop of 20% when compared to the same period last year. This drop is in stark contrast with the 17% growth experienced across the rest of Thailand in the first half of 2007.

Neighboring Sri Lanka and the Maldives , which were also hit by the 2004 tsunami, recovered throughout 2005. However, with the resumption of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2006, Visa spending declined.

In the first six months of 2007, spending in Sri Lanka decreased 13% while it rose 63% in the Maldives .

DOT, Philippines marketing blitz draws in Taiwanese tourists

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has concluded a month-long promotional blitz in Taiwan. Activities included the Taipei International Tourism Festival, activities at the East Mall of ChunghsiaoFuxing MRT Station and the launch of the Philippines Insight Guidebook in the Mandarin language.

According to Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, “Taiwan is currently our 6th largest source of tourists. It is also a major trading and investment partner. Our marketing activities focus on showing potential tourists that the Philippines is their closest holiday destination. We have the sports, adventure, shopping and relaxation attractions, as well as a uniquely different culture just a couple of hours away.”

The activities were managed by DOT Officer In Charge Ireneo Reyes and Senior Tourism Operations Officer Leo Degario Magsalin, who were hands-on during the DOT’s participation in the Taipei International Tourism Festival held at Taipei County. A 36-square meter booth was constructed for the four-day expo and showcased the country’s major diving and water sports, golf and adventure destinations. Taiwan-based travel wholesaler Philam Tours presented their special Philippine leisure packages to the over 8,000 visitors at the fair. The event featured 150 exhibitors from around the world.

Reyes shared that “The festival further served as the launch pad for the DOT’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program to the Taiwan market. This is a follow up on the success we have with Korean students. The program offers the Philippines as the most enriching and cost-effective way to learn and study the language. The Asian youth, in particular, need not go too far and spend more to immerse themselves in a culturally-diverse, English-speaking country.”

The first batch of Taiwanese students will be arriving within the next few months to learn English at the Cleverlearn English Language Institute (CELI) in Cebu. The study tour includes visits to different historical landmarks and other points of interest across the country.

To sustain the interest gained through the fair, the department embarked on a month-long promotional blitz at the East Mall of ChunghsiaoFuxing MRT Station. A special booth was set up at a strategic location, encouraging shoppers with accumulated receipts of up to NT$ 1,000 to try their luck on winning either a Philippine-handcrafted keepsake jewelry box or one of 10 fully-hosted tropical beach holiday packages.

The 15-member UP Singing Ambassadors gave mall visitors a sampling of Filipino music during their weekend performances, where more prizes were given out during a fun trivia game between sets.

“The travel fair and mall event proved successful. We’ve been receiving calls from our partner travel operators sharing that they’ve been receiving a lot of inquiries about the Philippines,” Magsalin revealed.

The WOW Philippines Shopping Promo included radio and print advertisements in Taiwan’s leading media channels, as well as banners and posters featuring the various destinations and attractions.

While in Taipei, the delegation further launched the Mandarin version of the Philippines Insight Guidebook, the very first comprehensive handbook for Chinese readers. Sourced from the English-language edition developed by Insight Guides and Discovery Channel, the reference contains articles on Philippine culture, history and traditions. It also has handy information on the various attractions of the islands, as well as maps, transportation details and operating hours. Emergency numbers and listings of hotels, restaurants, shops with comparative pricing details are also included.

Secretary Durano declared that, “With this publication, we hope to pique the interest of the Taiwanese tourist. The book provides Chinese readers with essential data about the Philippines. This is part of our effort to create a truly enjoyable experience for our travelers.”

Produced by China Times Publishing, copies of the guide have been distributed to the major bookstores in Taiwan and will be donated to schools, libraries and other institutions.

The DOT team also joined Cebu Pacific in inaugurating the airline’s new Manila-Taipei flight offerings, which was held at the Chang Kai Shek International Airport in Taipei. The air carrier now flies a 179-seater Airbus A320 aircraft to and from Taiwan daily.

Philippines - New Shanghai-Cebu charter flights to boost tourism

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has confirmed the operation of China Southern Airline’s regular charter flight service from Shanghai to Cebu beginning July 27, 2007. The new flight offerings are part of the department’s plans to maximize the growing Chinese outbound travel market.

“Our talks with Shanghai-based travel operators revealed that Cebu is a popular destination outside Metro Manila for Chinese tourists. We look forward to the new opportunities that the flights will create not only for Cebu but also for Bohol and the surrounding provinces,” said DOT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

China Southern Airlines will fly a brand new 180-seater plane twice weekly from Shanghai to Cebu. Two more weekly flights will be added after the first three months of operation. China’s largest air carrier in terms of passenger volume, the company increased its Guangzhou-Manila flight service from three to five times weekly early this year.

The DOT recently visited the Chinese financial capital to discuss the details of the new service and to finalize agreements with members of consortium of Shanghainese tour operators who expressed interest in promoting the charter.

“Our partnerships with the Shanghai travel wholesalers are crucial in generating and sustaining consumer awareness. Our goal is to have Shanghainese tourists visiting our country for their summer break in July and August, the October autumn holiday and up until the Chinese New Year in February 2008,” explained Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr.

Among others, the DOT will be working with China’s leading retail agent Spring International Travel and Shanghai Jin Jiang Tours, one of the biggest travel conglomerates in the country for a series of joint promotions such as outdoor and print advertisements, flyers and brochures.

Other companies that intend to provide marketing and advertising support include major Chinese online travel portal and call center C-Trip, Shanghai Airlines Tours, multi-branch retailer CTS Shanghai, and China Hangzhou OTC Travel, which serves the Hangzhou and Nanjing provinces.

China Comfort Travel has announced its plans to have two charter flights to Clark for August. Other agents said that they will be working on expanding their tour offerings to include Kalibo and Laoag.

Jin Yu Air Service, the general sales agent for the Shanghai-Cebu flight service, recently placed destination descriptions of Cebu and Bohol on Yeexing.Com, one of China’s largest travel trade portals where some 15,000 Chinese agencies subscribe.

Additional media mileage was earned when Dragon TV, one of the largest TV networks in China, has also committed to feature the islands in its Shanghai Noon of International Service travel segment in August. The Shanghai Airlines TV group will be producing a feature on Cebu and Bohol, which will be shown in all of the airline’s outbound flights from China.

“The Shanghai Dive Association expressed interest in promoting our water sports attractions. Shanghai currently has eight dive schools catering to a growing number of enthusiasts,” shared Tourism Attaché for Shanghai Gerry Panga.

Panga added that “These activities augment the existing WoW Philippines digital bus stop ads displayed strategically around Pudong, the commercial district of Shanghai. We are also working on having buses wrapped with the WoW Philippines design plying the major road networks in the area.”

A part of the department’s trip to China was the I-Spa Travel Fair held at the Everbright Exhibition Center. The expo, considered one of the major events for the health and wellness industry, involved 200 spa resorts, hotels and other related enterprises from 15 countries. The Philippine booth was brightly lit and had images of the seashore on a calm, summer day. Brochures of the country’s destinations and internationally-acclaimed spa resorts were distributed.

Therapists Charisma Berdin and Catherine Cuesta, of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Cebu and Nurture Tropical Spa and Café in Tagaytay respectively, provided a sampling of hilot, or Filipino massage, to visitors.

The Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company helped open the three-day fair and captured the interest of several guests to the country’s culture and music. The group also entertained diners at the Philippine Food Festival held at Lucio Tan’s Eton Hotel in Pudong.

The seven-day Philippine Food Festival introduced the Shanghainese palate to classic Filipino dishes such as adobo, kinilaw, kaldereta, and leche flan. Chefs from the Century Park Hotel in Manila prepared the sumptuous lunch and dinner buffet spreads.

The Eton Hotel was also hosting at the same time an exhibit by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero, prolific Filipina watercolor artist and children’s book illustrator, at the foyer area of the hotel’s coffee shop.

“The Shanghai mission was about capturing the outbound travel market from all angles: from adventure to relaxation attractions, and the sights, sounds and tastes of our islands,” Secretary Durano explained.

The secretary announced that the DOT will be opening a new Shanghai office to accommodate the foreseen increase of outbound travelers from this area. China is currently the 4th top source of visitor arrivals. A total of 49,133 tourists came to the Philippines between January to April 2007, reflecting a 12.9 percent increase over the same period last year.

Source: DOT, Philippines

Saudi prince swoops on Raffles in Cambodia

DUBAI - The hotel-investment company controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the Saudi Arabian billionaire, has made its first foray into Cambodia as part of its quest to expand into emerging markets.

Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI), has snapped up Raffles Hotel Le Royal in the capital Phnom Penh, and the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor in Siem Reap, for a total of US$35m.

Raffles will continue to manage the hotels while the properties will be owned by KHI.

Most recently, Dubai-based KPI paid US$58 million for a 100 percent stake in the 387-room Traders Hotel in Kunshan – the company's first acquisition in China.

The move into China follows KPI's US$124.3 million purchase of Langkawi's luxury Four Seasons Hotel from Malaysia Airlines.

KHI intends to invest US$35 million in the resort by adding an additional 20 keys and developing 14 luxury villas that will be sold as Four Seasons Residences, to be completed at the end of 2008.

Sarmad Zok, chief executive of KHI, said the recent purchase of land for the Raffles Da Nang Resort on China Beach, Vietnam, "successfully demonstrates the company's ability to grow within Asia's emerging markets and be a leading player in an area fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world".

Raffles Da Nang will open in 2011 with approximately 150 hotel suites and 15 private residential villas for sale.

Tim Hansing, KPI senior vice-president acquisitions and development, said the company was not looking to build assets in mature markets such as Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore.

"In Singapore you will get a nice return but a safe return. In Hong Kong a more expensive investment will bring only a single digit return. In China there's more risk but a double digit return."

Hansing said KPI aimed to acquire a minimum of six properties a year (last year it acquired 11 hotels) of which four must be existing assets.

"We're opportunistic investors, we're not brand builders," he said. "If the opportunity is there, we'll take it."
Source: travelmole

Preah Vihear Temple to wait a year for World Heritage Site decision

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee announced after its annual meeting in New Zealand last week that it has delayed the registration of Preah Vihear temple onto the UNESCO world heritage list to next year, as Cambodia needs to resolve some issues, local media reported on Monday.

The World Heritage Committee needs to consider the Thai demand for clear border markings at the site, and asked the two nations to settle their common problems first, suggesting that Cambodia can again make the request next year, said Cambodian daily newspaper the Rasmei Kampuchea.

Cambodian government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith confirmed last Friday the postponement of the Cambodia's request for the temple to be listed as a world heritage site, agreeing that a few technical issues remain to be solved.

However, the minister stressed that the delay was not related to Thailand.

"Thailand didn't oppose the Cambodia's request to register Preah Vihear temple, but we have a few technical problems such as new buildings, radio towers, stalls and drainage (system)," said Kanharith.

Preah Vihear temple, situated along the Cambodian-Thai border, has long been a cause of dispute between the two Kingdoms, with the International Justice Court in 1962 ruling against Thailand's sovereignty claim. Cambodia and Thailand are discussing a joint plan to manage the area.

Source: Xinhua