Sokha Helicopter Airline opens in Cambodia

New Cambodian helicopter airline Sokha has begun daily helicopter services for the wealthy between several destinations in Cambodia, local media said on Thursday.

The new airline was officially launched here on Wednesday, during a ceremony presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An at the site of a newly-built 500-square-meter heliport, said Chinese-language newspaper the Sin Chew Daily.

Sokha Airline is a branch of Sokimex Company Ltd, said Airline Manager Dy Vichea, adding that the airline's purpose is to offer national and international tourists flight services.

It has six helicopters, including two Ecureuil 550 A2 helicopters which can carry five passengers, and one Robison R44 helicopter which can carry three passengers, he added.

Sokha will cover six routes daily, including Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh to Siem Reap town, Phnom Penh to Battambang town, Phnom Penh to Poipet, Phnom Penh to Bavet and Phnom Penh to Bokor.

One-way flights from Phnom Penh to Poipet cost 1,100 U.S. dollars per passenger, while to Bokor Mountain it costs 2,536 U.S. dollars, and Sihanoukville 700 U.S. dollars.

The rates may seem quite high, said Sok Kong, the airline's chairman who is also president of Sokimex Company Ltd. But he said that he believes that wealthy people will be willing to pay for the convenience and pleasure of flying in a helicopter.

Sokha Airline offers high-efficiency and high-speed services while also providing a humanitarian service, for example in remote areas in times of flooding and other natural disasters, said Deputy Prime Minster Sok An.

He stressed that the airline service can contribute to economic growth and benefit the tourism industry and it is a reflection of investors' confidence in the country.

Source: Xinhua

World's Largest Casino Opens In Macau

MACAU (AP) — American billionaire Sheldon Adelson opened what he claims is the world’s largest casino floor housed in Asia’s largest building Tuesday, adding credence to this coastal Chinese city’s claim to be a major gambling center.

Adelson and his wife Miriam inaugurated the $2.4 billion Venetian by smashing a bottle of champagne against the front of one of the casino and hotel complex’s gondolas at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The resort opened to the public later Tuesday, with its first batch of hundreds of visitors filing through the front door in an orderly fashion after Chinese firecrackers — lines of red tubes — were set off. Some guests posed for pictures under the golden dome ceiling just inside the resort’s entrance.

Casinos like the Wynn and Adelson’s Sands have already helped this small city in southern China surpass the Las Vegas Strip as the world’s most lucrative gambling center.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Adelson aims to take a step further with the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel.

He hopes the complex will transform Macau from a gambling pit stop for Chinese tourists to a vacation and business convention destination, where visitors can spend a few days shopping, watching shows — and rolling dice.

“Today is the beginning of what has been a dream of mine for some time — to reproduce the capital of entertainment in Asia for Asians,” Adelson said at a press conference earlier Tuesday.

Macau’s casinos are currently scattered across the territory, which comprises a peninsula connected to mainland China and two outlying islands linked by a reclaimed strip called Cotai.

Adelson hopes his Venetian Macao Resort on Cotai will help launch a massive, concentrated resort area he calls the Cotai Strip, after its Las Vegas counterpart.

Las Vegas Sands claims the 10.5 million square feet Venetian — twice the size of the Las Vegas original — is the largest building in Asia and the second largest in the world. Boeing Co. claims it has the world’s largest building — a plant in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington.

The Venetian boasts what it claims to be the world’s largest gaming space of 550,000 square feet, housing 3,400 slot machines — with room to expand to 6,000 — and more than 800 gambling tables.

It has 3,000 rooms, a 15,000-seat sports arena, retail space for 350 stores, 1.2 million square feet of convention space, fine dining and a Cirque du Soleil-produced show.

Adelson also plans to open more hotels under brands such as Four Seasons, Sheraton and St. Regis next door. In all, his Las Vegas Sands Corp., which also runs the Sands Macao on the Macau peninsula, plans to invest up to $12 billion and build 20,000 hotel rooms on the Cotai Strip by 2010.

Source: news.rgj.com

Angkor Wat Show " The Legend of Angkor Wat, When History comes to Life"

Bayon CM Organizer Company Limited and Bayon Radio and Television will organize the Legend of Angkor Wat Light & Sound Show, the biggest and unforgettable performance in Siem Reap - Angkor with 150 Cambodian performers (supported by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Fine Arts, the University of Fine Arts etc.) acting and playing on the 20x40 metre long stage located in front of the Angkor Wat set up as the natural backgdrop, the show is not dancing show which you have ever seen before Cambodia but it is a PLAY depicting the history of Angkor Wat and Khmer Empire in the 12th century with theatrical Broadway style.

It will be held on 24 November 2007 - 20 January 2008 at Angkor Wat . Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Enjoy the warmest Khmer hospitality as you begin this spectacular evening with a leisurely stroll along a traditional Khmer village market bustling with various folk performances, local delicacies, arts and handicrafts.

Angkor Wat will then explore in an extravagant display of lights, sounds, water screen, and other special effects. You will be transported back in history during a time when this ancient wonder of the world was once center of a powerful empire. Angkor Wat comes to life and becomes an enchanting backdrop for a great historical story-telling rendered through unique Apsara dances and contemporary Khmer performances.

Additionally, there will be a special celebration featuring the official national APSARA on stage with hundred of Cambodian performers amid an extravagance of lights and sounds. During the event, guests will take pleasure in a sumptuous dinner which promises to be a gastronomic delight.

For Ticket Details and Pricing, Please contact the organiser at email: mailadmin@bayoncm.com

Show Website: www.angkorwatshow.com

Cambodia e-Visa in Google Earth

Cambodia e-Visa

Are you planning to visit Cambodia for business travel or tourism... One of the fastest and easiest way to apply Cambodia Visa is e-Visa.

The official e-Visa by Kingdom of Cambodia. Apply Cambodia e-Visa online: http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/

Cambodia e-Visa in Google Earth
Cambodia e-Visa information is now available in the popular virtual globe which is more known as Google Earth. The information is placed at Siem Reap, near to Angkor Wat on the map. For more details, please look for “Cambodia eVisa” at coordinate lat=13.4332742741, lon=103.833291995 in Google Earth.

More e-Visa Lanes

Due to the increased numbers of e-Visa applicants, we are in the process of adding new e-Visa lanes in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh International Airport. Each airport will have a total of 5 additional e-Visa lanes. Meanwhile, we are also training up more immigration officers to cope up with the increasing traffic.

To date, we have processed more than 25,000 visa applicants. We are very glad to receive many positive feedbacks as we are slowly positioning Cambodia e-Visa as one of the preferred visa application method for Cambodia travelers worldwide.

Development of tourism in the GMS Countries

Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam join hands in developing tourism

Tourism officials from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam have gathered in a meeting in Cambodia’s Sihanoukvile to look into ways to boost the development of tourism in the three countries’ common sea area.

Cambodia’s Minister for Tourism Dr. Thong Khon said after the meeting that participants have agreed upon measures to strengthen cooperation among the three countries in order to turn their common sea area into an attractive tourism destination.

The meeting, an initiative of Cambodia, was held on August 24 under the sponsorship of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

High on the agenda of the meeting were discussions on the training of human resources for sea tourism, linkage tours between tourism destinations in the three countries as well as the exchange of experience and tour operation management in the tourism sector.

The second meeting of its kind is scheduled to take place in Thailand in 2008

Kien Giang Opens Tourism route to Cambodia's Kampot Province

The Mekong delta province of Kien Giang has opened a new tourism trail to beauty spots in Cambodia’s Kampot Province.

A sea service will bring tourists from Ha Tien Town to the famous beach city of Kep twice a week while four buses run between Rach Gia City and Kampot Town with four weekly departures.

Businesses from the two provinces have reached agreements on five tourism infrastructure projects totalling over 60 billion VND (3.7 million USD), in the hope of starting construction next year.

Source: VNA

Asean to publish Travel Guide

Academic says member countries should avoid competing with each other by clearly defining and positioning their tourism image.

Asean members and two of its dialogue partners, China and South Korea are working on the ‘Asean Travel Guide Book’ , which contains information on 15 tourist attractions in each country under themes based on each destination’s strengths.

A research scholar says tourism image positioning is needed as a guideline for marketing plans and product development for Asean member countries to avoid competing among each other while attaining their goal of sustainable tourism and raising the quality of tourism within the region.

The Tourism Research Centre of Sustainable Tourism Development, research manger and project director Therdchai Choibamroong said as set out at the Asean Summit 2004 held in Vientiane , tourism is among 12 criterion of collaborative development.

The Thailand Research Fund, under the supervision of The Office of the Prime Minister, is funding ABTRC to conduct image positioning research to build up its tourism research databank and create a tourism research network.

According to Mr Therdchai, the results from the first phase of research from seven members countries shows that each of the target countries does not have a clear image position for its tourism and this is leading to competition among each other. The second phase of the project expanded to all 10 member country plus China and South Korea to try to establish the link for tourism among Asean and its two dialogue partners.

During the International Conference Symposium on Tourism Image positioning of Asean, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea , representatives from Asean National Tourism Organizations as well as executives from tourism businesses from each Asean member met to discuss a SWOT analysis, and to present 15 tourist attractions in each country under a strong theme for each.

Mr Therdchai said, under the supervision of ABTRC, it expects the book will be published by the end of this year, with 500 copies, distributed to the Asean NTOs.

Based on the strength of the destination - Thailand , Indonesia , Brunei , Myanmar , Laos , The Philippines and Vietnam - culture and nature-based tourism can be used for their image. Malaysia and Singapore are using a variety of tourism resources, while Cambodia is only using nature and heritage-based tourism.

Tourism products in Thailand include a rafting trip on the Nam Keg River in Phitsanulok, the Karen Custom Festival in Ratchaburi, bird watching at Khao Sok National Park, a temple tour in Sing Buri and a canal trip along the Nakonpatom River to experience the lifestyle.

Silpakorn University, deputy head of Faculty of Management Science, Jittasak Putjorn, who conducted a study, ‘Tourism Situation and Tourism Image Positioning of Thailand’, said, “In recent years, tourism has been used as a main tool for the Thai government in solving economic problems, but it is time for tourism marketing planners to accept the truth that we cannot chase figures and revenue without knowing our visitors.

”He added, “We can see that even within Asean countries, cultures and nature are often used. We need to strengthen our positioning in quality in order to differentiate the destinations.”

Source: ettrdaily

Air India to Join Global Airline Alliance, Plans Hub in Europe

Air India Ltd., the nation's biggest overseas carrier, will join an alliance of global airlines and set up a hub in Europe to take on increasing competition for flights to North America.

The carrier is in talks with three airports in Europe for setting up the hub for long-haul flights, Chairman V. Thulasidas said in New Delhi today, without elaborating.

Competition for the lucrative North American market from India is increasing, with Jet Airways (India) Ltd., the nation's biggest domestic carrier, starting flights to the U.S. and Canada this year.

Other private airlines expect the government to ease rules, allowing them to ply overseas before completing the mandatory five years of flying within the country.

Jet Airways started flights to the New York area's Newark Liberty International Airport, connecting through Brussels. UB Group's Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. has applied to start flights to New York and San Francisco by April, Chairman Vijay Mallya said yesterday.

Jet Airways plans to fly to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco from Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi by the end of 2008. State-run Air India started daily flights to New York from Mumbai on Aug. 1 with two new Boeing 777-200 LR planes, which will be followed by flights from New Delhi, starting early 2008.

The carrier, which is being merged with Indian Airlines Ltd., the second-biggest domestic airline and also state-run, plans to start more flights to the U.S. and Canada. Jet Airways said it will start flights to Toronto from New Delhi via Brussels five times a week from next month.

Joining Alliance

Air India may join Star Alliance, the world's largest grouping of airlines that has Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Singapore Airlines Ltd. among its members, local media reported earlier.

SkyTeam Alliance and OneWorld are the other alliances. Star Alliance plans to name a new member from India, which may either be Air India or Jet Airways (India) Ltd., Chief Executive Officer Jaan Albrecht said on April 19. ``An announcement will be made jointly by the alliance we are joining and the airline,'' Thulasidas told reporters. He didn't elaborate.

Air India is expected to soon receive approval from the Ministry of Company Affairs for the merger with Indian Airlines, Thulasidas said. India wants to merge the two airlines to compete with Singapore Airlines and Emirates that have expanded into the country.

The merged carrier will have as much as 135 planes by 2011, Thulasidas said. The carrier will also start maintenance and repair center for aircraft in India and Accenture Ltd., its consultant, will submit a report within a month, he said.

Air India's profit declined to 149.4 million rupees ($3.6 million) in the year ended March 31, 2006, from 963.6 million a year earlier as it lost market share to new and existing carriers in a market that's set to be the world's fastest growing through 2025.

Source: bloomberg.com

China Issues new Guidlines for chinese travelers

China issues new guidelines telling its tourists no shouting, no extortion

No shouting, no fighting, no extortion. New guidelines for Chinese travelers abroad cover a wide range of dangerous or problematic behavior to help head off trouble.

Travelers are told to avoid drawing attention to themselves, respect local customs, and keep a wary eye on strangers.

"Keep peaceful in public places, don't talk loud and avoid sticking out," said the guidelines, seen on the Foreign Ministry's Web site Tuesday.

"Don't get involved in other people's quarrels in public places," it added, a nod to the Chinese habit of gathering in large crowds to observe or even take part in others' arguments and fights.

The suggestions also urged Chinese tourists to respect local laws and not to attempt to cut corners or make threats.

"When your legal rights are violated, avoid making things worse and resolve the problem through upright channels, not through extortion or other illegal methods," the guidelines said.

Along with the booming economy, Chinese have become a major presence in international tourism in recent years. While most are welcomed for the cash they spend, there have been incidents of Chinese abroad causing both offense through obnoxious behavior and being preyed on by criminals or cheats.

The number of Chinese who travel outside their homeland each year is expected to nearly triple to 100 million people by 2020

Source: iht.com

Huge advertising campaign necessary for Vietnam’s Tourism

New Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh talks about plans to develop the tourism sector in the future.

You were previously Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and now are Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. What is the priority that you have set to develop the tourism sector?

I think the most important thing is bringing images of Vietnam to the world and overseas Vietnamese as well.

However, it is said that tourism advertising of Vietnam is not good. What do you think about it?

It is true that many issues related to tourism advertising need to be addressed in the coming time such as how to make images of Vietnam known by Vietnamese people and international visitors.

For example, Ha Long Bay, one of the natural landscapes of Vietnam that is recognised by the world, will participate in a selection for the seven natural wonders of the world. The selection is an opportunity for each Vietnamese to deliver their message and to put Vietnam on the world tourism map.

More than ever, we need deep and wide advertising for Vietnam’s tourism. In addition, local governments have to boost security and environmental hygiene at their own tourist sites.

The advertising of the country’s images will be even more effective if advertising messages are sent by each citizen.

We have signed a contract with CNN to advertise Vietnam’s tourism on this famous channel. How will the contract be implemented?

The government has agreed with the detailed scheme on tourism advertising programmes. Accordingly, Vietnam’s tourism will be advertised on CNN for 13 weeks, twice a day, totalling 182 times during peak hour.

We have reached agreements with CNN on the contents and the way of advertising. This October images of Vietnam’s land and people will be officially broadcast on CNN.

It is a fact that the number of foreign visitors returning to Vietnam is very modest. What are solutions for this problem?

According to our statistics, more than 30% of international visitors plan to return to Vietnam. To have more foreign travellers returning to Vietnam, we have to meet their needs for services, to have better tourism products and better tour guides, who are ambassadors for Vietnamese culture.

In addition, we have to raise the people’s awareness in protecting and maintaining landscapes and tourism culture.

However, we should realise that tourists always want to discover new sites so the best way is perfecting our tourism products to attract them.

Source: vietnamnet.vn

China inaugurates first tourism office in India

Keen to promote itself as an attractive destination for Indians, China on Monday inaugurated its first tourism promotion office here.

The China National Tourism Authority (CNTA) office was inaugurated by Shao Qiwei, the Chairman of the National Tourism Administration and Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni.

"With the opening of this office, we are sure that it will help forge close ties between the two countries," Shao said at the function this evening.

The launch of China's official tourism outpost is in line with the action plan of 'India-China Year of Friendship Through Tourism-2007'. India is expected to open its tourism promotion office in Shanghai as a reciprocal gesture.

"This official Chinese tourist office aims to promote China as a tourist destination to the growing Indian outbound travel market," said Yang Shengminhg, who is the in-charge of the office here.

Earlier, Shao, who was accompanied by a 32-member business delegation, held discussions with Soni on a range of issues to further cooperation between the two countries in the tourism sector.

The two leaders also chaired the China-India Tourism Forum which saw participation from more than 120 industry delegates from both countries.

The forum aims to provide a platform where government tourism officials and industry representatives of the two countries can meet and exchange information.

In order to promote tourism, China plans to hold a series of events in New Delhi and Mumbai, which include China-India Tourism Fora organised in conjunction with Ministry of Tourism and China Tourism Nights.

Source: indiatimes.com

India Promotes New Shopping Tourism Destinations

Four places identified as shopping tourism destinations

The Centre has identified four destinations to launch India as a shopping tourism destination.

Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said Shilparamam near Hyderabad, Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Bhubaneswar in Orissa have been identified for kicking off the project. More destinations may be added to the project which may be a public-private partnership venture.

Addressing a press conference after inaugurating the 57th TTF, a travel and tourism exposition, she said she hoped to pick a place in West Bengal also. Asked whether there would be duty-free shopping malls as part of the venture, the Minister said these places would showcase handicrafts and the rural way of life. The experience would be different from those in Singapore or Dubai.

She said the Centre was ready to share 25 per cent of the investment with either the State Government or any private party willing to invest in improving the infrastructure at these four destinations.Coinciding with the Commonwealth Games, a target of 10 million tourists has been set for 2010, she said.

Source: hindu.com

China, the third largest tourism destination by 2008

China is likely to replace the United States as the world's third most popular tourism destination next year, a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) official said.

At present, China ranks fourth, after France, Spain and the United States. Last year, China accounted for 5.8 percent of the global tourism market, a growth of 0.3 percent compared with two years ago.

Twenty-nine percent of tourists who traveled to Asia and the Pacific last year also visited China.
UNWTO forecast last year that China would become the most popular destination by the year 2020. At the beginning of this year, it revised its forecast to 2015. Xu said the forecast was revised because of the rapid development of the country's tourism industry.

The number of overseas travelers to China has increased from 10.5 million in 1996 to 49 million in 2006. The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, will further boost China's tourism market, reports The China Daily.

The Pacific and Asia Travel Association said inbound tourism to China will increase by 5 percent year-on-year between 2007 and 2009.

Malaysia going on tourism blitz in US and Canada

Malaysia going on tourism blitz...

Tourism Malaysia is targeting 200,000 American tourists next year. As Mohamad Taib put it, the best-kept secrets about the country should be out.

AS a couple, they are the exact opposites. One is the very symbol of Kuala Lumpur’s concrete jungle, the other is the man of the jungle.

But together, they are the biggest “poster boys” for Americans coming to Malaysia. We are talking about the Petronas’ Twin Towers and the Orang Utan.

“The Twin Towers remain our iconic landmark. They know that Taipei 101 has overtaken us. But our advantage is that we have two towers!” said Mohamad Taib Ibrahim, Tourism Malaysia vice-president (New York).

Malaysia’s second best-known “face” among Americans is the Wild Man of Borneo.

“I am often asked ‘can we cuddle them?’, ‘can we touch them?’,” he said.

Americans, he said, preferred to see the orang utan in their natural habitat. They know about the renowned Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan, and the Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Kuching.

“They are more interested to know what we are doing to protect the orang utan,” Mohamad Taib pointed out as the name “Borneo” itself sounded very exotic to the Americans.

Come Sept 9 to 17, a Malaysian delegation led by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor will be on a hard-sell mission to the United States and Canada.

Their first stop is New York City, followed by Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles.

“Our main objective is to inform and educate the industry about our tourism products. We also want to provide a bridge between Malaysian suppliers and the local players,” Mohamad Taib said.

Seminars, presentations, meetings with agents to draft tour packages; even lucky draws are in the line-up.

Among the Malaysian participants are Borneo Divers and the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort, besides representatives from World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship and Monsoon Cup.

“The idea is to showcase Malaysia as not just a leisure destination but to stress that we have other niches as well,” he said.

Tengku Adnan would also be opening the Naza Group-owned Crowne Plaza San Pedro in Los Angeles on Sept 15.

And in collaboration with Telekom Malaysia USA Inc, he would also launch in New York on Sept 10 a prepaid international phone card, where 60,000 cards will be sold in Florida, Washington DC, Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

These cards, in denominations of US$2, US$5, US$10 and US$20, will feature costumes such as the cheongsam and sari, plus the songket and “pua”.

“It is a way to sell the Malaysian brand. Hopefully, they can become collectors’ items as well.”

The aggressiveness of the Malaysian delegation is understandable.

Firstly, the focus now is towards long-haul markets such as the United States, Europe and Russia.

“A lot of our tourists are from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. Now, we want to target markets that are further away,” Mohamad Taib said.

But perhaps there is a more compelling reason. Although the number of American visitors to Malaysia went up by 15.2% to 174,336 last year, the figures still fell short of the targeted 180,000.

Apparently, the Johor floods and the unrest in Thailand have impacted the entry points in the south and north of the country.

Mohamad Taib acknowledged that the main stumbling block in selling Malaysia to the Americans was their perception of what a Muslim country was all about.

The images they have are kidnappings, insurgents and terrorists.

“But once they visit Malaysia, they know that nothing can be further from the truth.”

Still, the US market isn’t doing too badly.

A total of 45,525 tourists were recorded between January and March, which represented a 7.8% increase compared to the first quarter of last year.

In fact, Tourism Malaysia is targeting 200,000 American tourists next year.

As Mohamad Taib put it, the best-kept secrets about the country should be out.

Source: thestar.com.my

New golf course slated for Siem Reap

Cambodia’s first international PGA-standard golf course, Phokeethra Country Club, Angkor Wat, is the latest development in Angkor town. Thai Nakorn Patana, owner of Sofitel Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort in Siem Reap, invested US$10 million in the new 18-hole golf course.

Thai Nakorn Patana deputy managing director Supachaai Verapuchong said, though the umber of tourists visiting Siem Reap stood at around 700,000 last year, their length of stay was only approximately 1.7-1.8 nights per person.

“Activities for tourists in the town are still quite limited. Most of the itineraries include temple visits, sight-seeing at the lake, or taking in the spas, and then the tour is over, “said Mr Supachai.

He said, adding new activities, such as golf, will add value to the visitor’s trip. The increase length of stay will benefit the related tourism sectors.

According to Mr Supachai, the expected length of stay for visitors coming to Angkor town for sightseeing and golf, will increase the average person nights to 2.5-2.6.

The golf course, managed by Sofitel Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort, is expected to improve the offerings for the high-end market heading to Siem Reap. This is expected to raise the year-round occupancy for the hotel, during the current room oversupply, Siem Reap has almost 10,000 rooms for tourists in all hotel categories, but annual occupancy stands at only around 30% a year.

According to Mr Supachai, by late this year, the Sofitel Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort will be renamed the Sofitel Phokeethra Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort. Thai Nakorn Patana intends to rebrand all its properties under the Phokeethara name, following the ancient Phya Naga Phokee legend.

Future plans for the Phokeethra brand call for a JV project, Sofitel Phokeethra in Phnom Penh. It is being constructed on 50-rai of land by the river, near the Thai Nakorn Patana’s Royal Phnom Penh before it was razed in a 2003 fire.

Mr Supachai unveiled that the US$25 million project is expected to open by the third quarter of 2008.“While the tourism in key gateways of the region such as Thailand and Vietnam are steadily growing, there’s no doubt that Cambodia, the country situated in between, will also tap into this growth trend.” Said Mr Supachai.

Indonesians Interest in Investing in Iran Tourism Industry

Signing a memorandum of understanding in tourism industry, participating in exhibitions, and launching Iranian-Indonesian friendship association, are among the programs which are underway for promoting Iran and Indonesia relationship.

As two Asian and Muslim countries and enjoying many common cultural values, Iran and Indonesia have a great potential to expand their tourism relations. Located in Southeast Asia and with a population of over 234 million people, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country and the most populated Muslim-majority nation.

In an interview with CHN on the occasion of Indonesia Independency Day, Consul Bambang Mulyanto, who has recently started his mission in Indonesia’s Embassy in Tehran, explained about the future programs of Indonesia for developing its cultural and tourism relations with Iran.

“As a representative of Indonesia government in Iran, I do hope to witness the promotion of relations between the two friend countries in different fields including economic, culture, and tourism in a very near future. One of my goals during my mission to Iran is to make a visit to all Iranian provinces and have a talk with the provincial authorities in an attempt to prepare the ground in this regard. As the starting point, I am so glad for finding the chance to visit Gilan, Qom, and Isfahan provinces and have some negotiations with President of Iran and governors of these provinces well as a number of Iranian successful businessmen during my two months residency in Iran. We will do our best to bring these memorandums of understanding between the two countries into force and in an attempt to reach this goal like previous times we will participate in Iran’s economical, cultural, and tourism exhibitions. Taking part in Ramazan (Muslim fasting month) festival is one of our other programs and some sport teams consisted of Indonesian traditional military sport will come to Iran in a near future to perform various programs,” said Mulyanto to CHN.

Regarding the executive programs which have been signed in tourism fields between the two countries following last year’s visit of Indonesian deputy minister of Culture and Tourism to Iran, Consul Mulyanto said: “As far as I know, last week a team consisted of 22 Indonesian travel agencies who are active in taking pilgrims to Hajj Omreh made a visit to Iran to hold negotiations with Iranian authorities for using Iran as a transit destination. During their trip they also visited some of Iran’s tourism attractions. Some negotiations have been also made for launching direct flight between Tehran-Jakarta by Iran Air and Mahan airlines. A tourism consortium is due to be formed in a near future between the two countries. We have also given some suggestions for bringing some tourism facilities for Indonesians who want to make a travel to Iran, such as extending the visa duration as well as reducing the cost for issuing visa. Encouraging Indonesian private sector to investing and advertising on Iran’s tourism industry is one of our other aims in order to speed up the trend of tourism interactions between the two countries.”

According to Mulyanto, Indonesians show a lot of interest to invest in Iran especially in its tourism industry. “Of course like the other countries where they have invested such as Hong Kong and Singapore, they are looking out for the return of their investment,” he added. Indonesian’s Consul in Tehran, strongly believes that Iran enjoys a great potential in fields of cultural heritage and art.

“I am really interested to see the active participation of Indonesia’s private section in these fields. However, such strong potentials should be introduced to both Muslim and non-Muslim countries by Iranian people and government.”

Tourism industry is an important component of the Indonesian economy and an important source of foreign exchange revenues. With a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, the second longest shoreline in the world, 300 different ethnic groups and 250 distinct languages, and tropical climate throughout the year, nature and culture are two major components of Indonesian tourism.

Source: chnpress.com

China and India to Promote Cooperation in Tourism

Chinese officials arrive to promote tourism

A high-powered official delegation from China will be on a week-long visit to India from Sunday to promote cooperation in tourism between the two countries.

Led by Shao Qiwei, chairman of the national tourism administration of the People's Republic of China (CNTA), the 32-member delegation is coming here on the invitation of tourism minister Ambika Soni. The visit is in line with the action plan of 'India-China Year of Friendship Through Tourism 2007'.

The China-India Tourism Forum will organise a joint meeting in Delhi on Monday which will be attended by the two ministers, apart from 120 delegates from the two countries.

"Tourism officials and industry representatives will get an opportunity to interact at the meeting. This will help them exchange information and enhance future cooperation between the two countries in the tourism sector," a release issued by Times Foundation, the facilitator of the visit, said.

For the China Tourism Night in Delhi and Mumbai, over 200 travel industry representatives in each city will be invited to meet their Chinese counterparts and explore business opportunities.

Shao Qiwei and Soni will inaugurate the China National Tourist Office in Delhi during the visit. It will soon be opened for business by Chinese ambassador Sun Yuxi.

Source: indiatimes.com

All About Bali

Visiting Bali - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where exactly is Bali?

A: Bali is one of islands in Indonesia, geographically located at 8°25′23″S, 115°14′55″E, lying between Java Island to the west and Lombo Island to the east.

Q: When is the best time to visit Bali?

A: Bali is a tropical island means it's an all-year-round destination. You can enjoy a nice summer from March to September, while is rather humid and sometimes rain in October to February, but basically there is no restriction time to visit Bali.

Q: Do I need a visa to visit Bali?

A: Visitors from ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nation) plus Hong Kong, Macau, Marocco and Peru can enter Bali without a visa for periods of time, but other nationality would need one. Don't worry, Indonesian government offers Visa on Arrival for visitors originated from Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Quatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America

Q: Where is the best area to stay?

A: Bali has so many great places to stay. If you want to stay not too far from shopping and major sights the Kuta will be the place. If you like to enjoy a nice and not too crowded beach, Nusa Dua and Sanur are excellent choice. You can even stay at Ubud with mountain and river view. It's all up to your choice.

Q: How about local transportation?

A: Bali is not a big city so it doesn't have mass transportation like Subway or Train, but you can enjoy convenient taxis at very reasonable price. In some places like Kuta you can even try Dokar, a horse-drawn buggy.

Q: Is Bali popular with its foods?

A: The foods is outstanding, you can choose from wide variety local foods (which is very delicious) and international foods like Western, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, etc.

Q: Will I be expected to pay tips?

A: Most restaurants already charges you with 10% service tax so you don't need to pay tips. However, tipping is left to your discretion. Bellboys, porters, restroom attendants and taxi drivers will happily accept loose change.

Q: Will I be able to use my electrical equipment in Bali?

A: The standard electrical voltage in Bali is 220 volts AC, 50HZ, so you will need an adaptor for your 100-volt appliances and electrical equipment.We use a two-pronged plug. Many inexpensive adaptor available in stores at Bali.

Q: Where can I get Internet Access in Bali?

A: Most hotels have Internet access. You can also access the Internet for free at many coffee shops, large shopping malls, and public places in town. You can also go to Warnet or Internet Cafe

Q: Is Bali safe for the visitor?

A: Yes, although Bali tourism was ruined by the "Bali Bombing 1" and "Bali Bombing 2" but nowadays everything is back on track and Bali is one of the safest area in Indonesia

Q: Is English widely spoken?

A: Very widely spoken. There will be no problems in communicating with people in most hotels, restaurants and even some taxis

How to get to Bali

Bali is one of top destinations in the world with it's own International Airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport). You can enjoy direct flight from most big cities in Asia and Australia like Hong Hong, Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne and many mores. You can also enjoy local airlines if you fly from other cities in Indonesia as Bali is the second busiest airport in Indonesia.

Ngurah Rai International Airport is located in Kuta, just 10 minutes from the most popular Kuta beach. From there you can easily reach your destinations like hotels, retaurant or beaches with Taxis with very reasonable price.

Besides plane, you can also get to Bali with cruises or even road. People travelling from Java usually like to have a road trip to Bali. As bali and Java is different island, of course you must take ferry to across the Bali strait, but the view is amazing.

What to wear in Bali

Bali's tropical climate means you won't be needing the winter woollies at all. Loose-fitting cotton clothing generally fits the bill. Rain showers are possible during the rainy season (around October to February), so also be sure to pack a light waterproof jacket.

Of course, what you need to pack depends on what you plan to do in Bali. Swimwear for the beaches, stout shoes for pounding the sightseeing beat and smart casual wear for dinner are suggested. You won't see many people wearing a formal suits but you can use it when visiting for business.

PS: For girls, recommended not to use hig heels as you will walk so much to see many great places in Bali

The Need for Open Skies in Indonesia

The director of the Bali Hotel School, Drs. I Nyoman Gede Astina, has called on the government to declare open skies in order to overcome the current reluctance of European travelers to visit Indonesia and Bali.

Quoted in the Indonesian language BisnisBali, Astina said that the Indonesian government and national airlines must practice introspection and revisit the safety standards that are worrying to the European community. He also suggested that Indonesia invite member countries of the European Union to come to Indonesia and see the condition of Indonesian aviation first-hand.

The Need for Open Skies

Astina said the current embargo on Indonesian aviation must prompt the government to declare "open skies", allowing foreign airlines wider access to Bali. "This policy must be introduced as soon as possible in order to accelerate the recovery of tourism numbers to Bali," said Astina.

Travel and Tourism Business: Singapore Is Set To Stage Biggest World Cuisines Show in Asia

The World Cuisines Show 2008 (WCS’08), to be staged in Singapore from July 25-27, 2008, is a global marketplace where countries around the world gather under one roof to showcase their national cuisines and cultural activities. National tourism authorities from more than 130 countries have been invited to participate in this inaugural international event.

Globally, gastronomic tourism is coming up as a form of special interest tourism in which food and beverages are the main motivating factors for travel to a desired destination. Studies have shown that food plays an important part in the holiday experience of travellers, consciously or unconsciously.

Tourism authorities around the world are recognising the potential of gastronomic tourism as a powerful tool to identify and promote places, regions or entire countries.

Global trends have identified that gastronomic tourists are looking for a more participatory style of holiday experience, which satisfies their interest in food and beverages and contributes to their personal development and social status or ‘cultural capital’. There is a shift from ‘passive observation’ towards ‘interactive involvement’, whereby the visitor comes into close contact with locals and their way of life.

Increasingly food and beverages are becoming the main reason for travel. The challenge is to combine food, beverage and culture into a total tourism experience which is authentic and truly reflects the local and unique flavours of that particular country.

According to Singapore Food Expo (SFE) the longest running local food show in Singapore, visitor-ship has been exceeding 500,000 and in 2006, they have registered an all time high of 720,000 visitors.

“Now, with the staging of the first ever World Cuisine Show 2008 in Singapore, it is expected to attract the same, if not more, number of visitors to experience the wide varieties of cuisines and culture that all the participating countries will bring under one roof” said Sophie Xiao, the event director of the show.

National Tourism Authorities from more than 130 countries will be invited to promote and showcase their ethnic food, arts and culture to the domestic and international visitors who are expected to attend this event which will be held at the Singapore Expo.

Source: powerhomebiz.com

UNESCO Picks China for World Heritage Training Institute

The first World Heritage Institute of Training and Research-Asia Pacific (WHITR-AP) will be based in three Chinese universities.

UNESCO has picked China as the first country to set up its World Heritage Institute of Training and Research - Asia Pacific (WHITR-AP) under the World Heritage Center (WHC).

"The major function of WHITR-AP in China is to complement the activities of the WHC by providing capacity-building and research programs at the regional level in Asia Pacific," said Francesco Bandarin, director of WHC at its recent inauguration.

Operating from there sub-centers based at Tongji University in Shanghai, Peking University in Beijing and Suzhou University in Suzhou, China will be the first country to have such an institute.

Tongji University will be responsible for training in the protection of cultural heritage, while Peking University in Beijing for training in the protection of natural heritage, and Suzhou University in Suzhou for training in the protection of endangered craftsmanship.

In addition, WHITR-AP will organize symposiums and conferences, establish a comprehensive data base, and disseminate research information through its publications, both at the regional and international levels.

Zhang Xinsheng, vice-minister of education and chairman of the Executive Board of UNESCO said, the main task of WHITR-AP will be organizing the educational and training programs for professionals in the Asian region, and cooperating with other research institutes in the region to conduct in-depth studies on heritage sites. "Protecting world heritage sites is complicated and challenging."

Three support organizations, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) for the protection of natural heritage, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for the protection of cultural heritage, and the International Center for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) for the Restoration of cultural heritage sites make up support organizations under the WHC of UNESCO.

"WHITR-AP will be the fourth organization under the WHC to provide a link between its Asian and foreign counterparts in its three support organizations, as well as many non-profitable organizations with similar aims which comes under the WHC," added Bandarin.

There are 174 properties in Asia Pacific listed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites under the WHC, including 35 in China. Latest additions to the list from Asia Pacific include the Sydney Opera House and Jeju volcano islands and lava tubes in Korea.

Source: eTN Asia/Pacific Staff Writer

Malaysia Execs Eye 300,000 Pinoy Tourists

Malaysia execs eye 300,000 Pinoy tourists

The Malaysian government is trying to attract at least 300,000 Filipino tourists to visit its country.

This developed as Malaysian Deputy Tourism Minister Dato Donald Lim Siang Chai and Tourism Malaysia Director General Dato Mirza Mohammad Taiyab led a delegation to the Philippines on Tuesday to win more tourists to visit Malaysia.

Dato Donald said in a press conference on Tuesday his country was targeting 300,000 Filipino tourists.

"The Philippines is one of Malaysia's largest tourist generating markets," Dato Donald said.

Dato Donald was referring to the 18 percent increase in the number of Filipino tourists visiting Malaysia in 2006 and the 23.6 percent increase in the first quarter of 2007.

In 2006, around 211,123 Filipinos visited Malaysia. In the first quarter of 2007, around 64,102 tourists visited Malaysia - or 15,128 more than the 48,974 tourists who visited the country in the first quarter last year.

The Malaysian delegation met with tour operators, representatives from the local airlines and other travel trade personnel in Cebu and Manila to enhance cooperative networking between the two countries.

This year's official visit of Dato Donald and company is a follow-up of the promotion conducted by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor in Manila in November 2006.

Apart from an official visit of its tourism delegation, Malaysia also has a tourism office within its embassy compound in Manila.For his part, Dato Mirza divulged that the Malaysian government has really spent a lot of money in trying to promote its country to the world.

This year alone, the Malaysian government has allocated at least US$50 million for its worldwide campaign.

The tourism industry in Malaysia accounts around 6.5 percent of the country's total economy.

For the first three months of this year, the top 10 tourist generating markets in Malaysia are Singapore, 2,568,574; Thailand, 418,895; Indonesia, 375,570; Brunei, 204.060; China, 174,842; Japan, 104,688; India, 79,075; Australia, 78,480; United Kingdom, 77,599 and the Philippines, 64,102.

Source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay for World Natural Wonder

Thanh Nien and Tuan Chau Resort launched Monday an international campaign to vote for Ha Long Bay, a famous seascape in northern Vietnam, as one of the world’s seven new natural wonders.

Situated in the gulf of Tonkin, it was acknowledged as a World Heritage twice – in 1994 and 2000.

Ha Long Bay comprises some 1,600 limestone islands and islets, precipitous and mostly uninhabited, making for a spectacular panorama.

Readers wishing to vote can access http://www.natural7wonders.com/, click in ‘Nomination’ on the left above corner, and fill in personal and nomination details.

The poll will remain open until August 8 next year after which a panel of experts will prune the list down to 21 candidates from which voters worldwide will elect seven.

The poll follows recent campaign to identify the New Seven Wonders of the World, including the Pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico, India’s Taj Mahal, Jordan’s Petra, Machu Picchu (Peru), the Great Wall (China), the Roman Colosseum (Italy) and Christ Redeemer (Brazil)..

The campaign

Thanh Nien and Tuan Chau Resort officials held a press conference Monday at the Sheraton hotel in Hanoi to announce the campaign.

Thanh Nien will carry articles on Ha Long Bay in its Vietnamese daily and its Vietnamese and English language online newspapers (http://www.thanhnien.com.vn/ and http://www.thanhniennews.com/).

The organizers also said they would distribute leaflets, post volunteers at airports and tourist sites, hold a trans-Vietnam cruise, and launch a music festival to spread the word about the poll.
Tuan Chau Resort announced a donation of VND2 billion (US$125,000) for the campaign. Nguyen Hoang informatics company donated ten laptops to be installed at tourist sites across Vietnam.

Story from Thanh Nien News

Lao Eco Tourism - Tourism Product Destinations

Lao Eco-Tourism Forum : New Tourism Products Destinations

Visiting an international travel show, is nothing for the heart-fainted. Sellers meet buyers and sellers try to decorate their booths accordingly. Buyers sometime break appointments or don’t appear at all. The question is if the investment will be justified to spend the money to attract new businesses.

During the Lao Eco-Tourism Forum at the Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane on July 26-29, some promising and courageous entrepreneurs - worth mentioning - were offering the following new and amazing tourism products, which showcase the natural and cultural heritage of Laos:

• Attapeu Palace is the first choice when travelling in the outmost southern part of Laos, where heaven meets earth. Nature, culture and history a-wait you. E-mail to atppalace@yahoo.com

• Don Chan Palace Hotel is by far the most luxurious hotel in Vientiane right on an island in the Mekong River. There are 230 spacious rooms and suites, a heated swimming pool and a gym. Go to http://www.donchanpalacelaopdr.com/

• Easy Trip in Houayxai, Bokeo Province, offers a visit to the ruins of Souvannakhomkham, an ancient city in Northern Laos dating back more than 500 years ago. Go to http://www.discoverylaos.com/

• Green Park Boutique Hotel Vientiane aims to offer a high standard of accommodation next to the Nong Chanh Green Park within walking distance to the Morning Market. Some 34 rooms and suites are viewing to the outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi and come with the Champa Lao Spa. Go to http://www.greenparkvientiane.com/

• Khiri Travel Thailand is rapidly expanding in Laos and offers specialised tours including tours to Vietnam and Cambodia. Go to http://www.khiri.com/

• Khonephapheng Resort & Golf Club offers 40 wooden bungalows only a stone-throw from the thundering Khone Phapheng Falls, a natural barrier in the Mekong River. The standard 9-holes golf course is still under construction. Go to http://www.khonephaphengresort.com/

• Kingfisher Eco-Lodge is a nature retreat in Champasak Province doing elephant rides to Phou Asa archaeological site. Go to http://www.kingfisherecolodge.com/

• Lao Air is an air charter operation company since 2002. The Office is in Asiane Road, Ban Akat, Wattay Airport in Vientiane, Lao P.D.R. Tel: 856-21-512027, 242896. The Managing Director is Mr. Bounma Chanthavongsa. Travel with Lao Air to: Sam Neua (Monday and Saturday): 1.133.000Kip (roundtrip), Phongsaly (Monday and Saturday): 1.373.000Kip (roundtrip), and Sayaboury (Tuesday and Friday): 893.000Kip (roundtrip). Go to http://www.lao-air.com/

• Lao Hotel and Restaurant Association (LHRA) is under care of Mr. Gerd Schwarz, German Development Service (DED). Go to http://www.laohotelgroup.org/ or e-mail to gerdschwarz@web.de

• Lao Spirit Resort is located 15km from Luang Prabang at the Nam Khan River and offers unique elephant rides and hiking to the nearby Tad Sae Waterfall. E-mail to info@lao-spirit.com

• Lao Youth Travel based in Vientiane offers trekking in Muang Ngoi and kayaking along the Nam Ou River. The company has branch offices in Luang Prabang, Pakse and Xieng Khouang, and is offering tailored-made tours and friendly services. Go to http://www.laoyouthtravel.com/

• Phou Ang Kham Hotel in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, is located along Route N13 to Luang Prabang with a view of the stunning limestone-mountains along the Nam Song River and away from the crowds. The Elephant Crossing Resort is right at the river and for the upper-end market.

• Tad Fane Resort in boutique style and overlooking the Tad Fane Waterfalls in Southern Laos offers 14 comfortable rooms and is an ideal starting point to explore Pakse and the vast unspoilt Boloven Plateau. Go to http://www.tadfane.com/

• Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre Luang Prabang is a museum about the ethnic cultures of Laos and exhibits clothing, household objects, religious artefacts and handicrafts, with some information in English. Also, you learn about tribal lifestyles, beliefs, and traditions. Open every day except Mondays. Entry ticket for 20.000Kip. The location is on the foot of Phousi Hill, behind the old Dala Market. Go to http://www.taeclaos.com/

• Udomxay Travel offers a tour from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam for 310USD per pax in a group of 5-10 persons (7days/6 nights). The itinerary includes a night in Chiang Mai, Ban Huayxai (2), Udomxay (2), and Chiang Rai. It uses the newly-opened international border checkpoint of Sobhoun-Taichang between Laos and Vietnam. For other interesting tours in the heart of Northern Laos go to http://www.udomxaitravellaos.com/

• Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel is conveniently located on the top of a hill in Phonsavanh and offers some 36 guestrooms and suites. Closer to town is the new recommended Duangkeomany Hotel & Restaurant. The author’s participation at the Lao Eco-Tourism Forum was made possible through the sponsorship of the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) and Lao Airlines.

Reporting By GMS Media Travel Consultant Reinhard Hohler.

1 MILLION POUND CASH BOOST FOR RURAL TOURISM

£1 MILLION CASH BOOST FOR RURAL TOURISM

A one million pound cash boost to support rural tourism in England was announced today by Culture Secretary James Purnell. He confirmed the funding at a meeting of tourism chiefs in London.

£750,000 will be given to the national tourism agency, VisitBritain, to promote rural destinations and visitor attractions which are vital to the economic health of local communities. The package, supplemented by £250,000 from VisitBritain’s existing budgets, will fund a targeted marketing campaign for the regions of England and businesses such as B&Bs, caravan parks and attractions. The campaign will begin this weekend.

Mr Purnell is today visiting the Courtyard Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Hatton World Farm Village. These two popular Warwickshire destinations demonstrate the range of first-rate entertainment on offer for visitors, both local and international.

James Purnell said:

“Britain is open for business. Right across the UK there are fantastic cultural and tourist attractions putting on high quality events.

“This £1,000,000 cash injection from Government and VisitBritain will help promote England’s many great destinations. I want to remind people across the country of the wealth of world class cultural and leisure opportunities on our doorsteps. You don’t need to go far to have a great day out. And we’ll be making sure that overseas visitors are reminded just how much there is to do in Britain.

“The RSC is one of the finest cultural institutions in the world, and makes a major economic as well as artistic contribution. It attracts visitors from all over the world. And Hatton World is a fine example of how farming and tourism are now intrinsically linked. Half way through the school holidays, what better time to get out and make the most of the great opportunities on our doorsteps?

”Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain, said:

“Government commitment to additional marketing funds comes at an opportune time for England and particularly rural destinations. It enables us to implement high profile activities on a larger scale and remind potential visitors of the appeals of a rural escape and that our tourism businesses remain open for business.”

1. Tourism is the UK’s fifth largest industry, worth £85 billion to the economy and employing around 2 million people directly and indirectly.

2. VisitBritain will develop a programme to support rural tourism, which will include:

• Increasing VisitBritain’s investment in rural marketing campaigns, widening opportunities for affected regions and businesses to participate at little to no cost. In particular, using the Rural Escapes campaign brochures and e-marketing to drive additional domestic visitors to the countryside and the Family Fun campaign to support domestic travel during the school holidays.

• A national media campaign to drive awareness of domestic destinations. In addition to print advertising and broadcast PR activity, TV advertising will be brought forward while the launch of Britain’s Favourite View on prime-time national television is also helping inspire day trips and longer holidays throughout the English landscape.

• Providing regularly updated, authoritative, reliable and inspirational information on a range of tourism experiences on EnjoyEngland.com and VisitBritain.com, co-ordinating messages on the websites of tourism associations, transport and tour operators, attractions and accommodation providers. Banner advertising and search engine optimisation to direct consumers and casual enquirers to this resource.

• Activity to raise awareness of Tourism Information Centres as sources of up-to-date local and regional information.

For further information please contact:

Elliott Frisby

Corporate PR Manager - VisitBritain

Thames Tower Blacks Road

London W6 9EL

Tel: 020 8563 3035 / Mob: 07951 996241

www.visitbritain.com/corporate

New Angkor Wat map unveils ancient secrets

The ancient settlement surrounding the main temple at Angkor is now known to be three time bigger than previously suspected. Complex irrigation structures are seen to fan out for 20 to 25 km beyond the main city.

Radar and aerial photography have helped experts build a detailed new picture of an intricately designed settlement stretching for many kilometres around the ancient Cambodian temples of Angkor Wat.

The research provides a timely warning, revealing how the complex engineering features of Angkor may have led to its downfall by disrupting the local environment.

"Our results show that Angkor, beyond the well-known temples, was a vast collection of interlinked water management devices such as canals and reservoirs interspersed with small, local temples and occupation features such as mounded areas and ponds," said Damian Evans, from the Spatial Science Innovation Unit at the University of Sydney in Australia.

Complex Challenge
Archaeologists have been trying to map the boundaries of the sprawling agricultural environs of Angkor in Siem Reap province since the 1950s, but the ancient remains have been subsumed by modern residential and agricultural developments, complicating the task.

Evan's led a team of Australian, Cambodian and French researchers who cracked the problem by linking information from hand-drawn maps, ground surveys, airborne photography, and ground-sensing radar provided by the U.S. space agency NASA.

Many years of data crunching later, they were able to identify over a thousand previously undetected man-made pond structures and at least 74 long-lost temples, all part of a massive network linked by a single hydraulic system. The system likely provided Angkor's citizens with a stable water supply despite the unpredictable monsoon season.

Their findings are published today in the U.S. journal The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Evans said the size and extent of land use in Angkor was sufficient to have profoundly impacted on the regional ecology. "In the new maps and the excavations… we can see what looks to be evidence of this - breaches in dykes and barrages, attempts to patch up the system and stratigraphies [sediment layers], which suggest chaotic flows of water."

Magnificent Temples
"For over one hundred years the research focus at Angkor has been on the magnificent temples, and on the sandstone inscriptions that are often found with them," said Evans. It has only been with the collapse of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1990s and the opening up of local research centres that people started to "look beyond these great structures to investigate where it actually was that people lived, how they fed themselves, and so on."

Janice Stargardt a geographer from the University of Cambridge, in England, commented that the re-mapping of Angkor and its extensive hinterland was significant "not only as an exercise in improved mapping using the latest technology, but also because of their sharp focus on the ancient irrigation works, linear embankments and their consequences both for ancient agriculture and settlement patterns."

Experts now know that the medieval settlement surrounding Angkor – the one-time capital of the illustrious Khmer empire, which flourished between the ninth and 14th centuries – covered a 3,000 square kilometre area. The urban complex was at least three times larger than archaeologists had previously suspected and easily the largest pre-industrial urban area of its kind, eclipsing comparable developments such as Tikal a Classic Maya "city" on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

It remains to be seen whether the engineering feats of Angkor were a cause, a symptom, or a result of the city's decline. "The new map at least tells us where we ought to be looking for the answers," said Evans.

Source: By Hamish Clarke, Agençe France-Presse

Angkor engineered its own demise

Angkor Wat was the centre of the world's largest pre-industrial settlement, which scientist say collapsed because of the overexploitation of land and water.

An international team of archaeologists has used radar technology to confirm the Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat was surrounded by the pre-industrial world's most extensive urban sprawl.

In today's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers report that NASA radar technology has helped reveal an ancient city, hidden beneath tropical vegetation.

The city has an area of almost 1000 square kilometres and is linked by a tightly integrated network of roads and water channels.

The study provides the "definitive map" of the Greater Angkor region, the researchers say.

And they say it helps support theories proposed by French archaeologist Bernard-Philippe Groslier in the 1950s, who suggested the area was more than a ceremonial site and that its water network was used to support a large population.

Lead author Damian Evans, of the University of Sydney's Archaeological Computing Laboratory, says the study also supports Groslier's theory that Angkor collapsed because of overexploitation of the land and a breakdown of the water network.

The mapping shows Angkor was "not simply a succession of spatially distinct ceremonial centres, [but] a low-density urban complex like the Classic Maya cities of the Yucatan Peninsula" in Central America, Evans writes.

"[But there is] no site in the Maya world that approaches Angkor in terms of extent", with the next largest pre-industrial city, Tikal, in Guatemala, enclosing just 150 square kilometres.

Evans says the city was serviced by an extensive and sophisticated water system with a single hydraulic system linking the entire network.

The reliance on this network could explain the collapse of Angkor as the land was degraded "radically enough to cause them problems", Evans says.

"It is an engineered landscape that hasn't been matched anywhere else in the pre-industrial world."

Angkor was the centre of the vast Khmer empire that controlled much of southeast Asia between the 9th and 15th centuries, before falling to the Thais in 1431.

The World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park is about 300 kilometres northwest of the modern Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, with the world's largest religious structure, Angkor Wat, at its heart.

Evans says the study has major implications for Angkor's management as a cultural resource as the remains of the urban complex extend far beyond the designated 400 square kilometre World Heritage zone that surrounds the central temples.

It also highlights the need to use similar mapping methods on other temple complexes in the tropical world.

"Many of these, like Angkor and the Maya temples, may also lie at the centre of previously undetected low-density urban settlements that are often obscured by vegetation or modern settlements," he says.

Evans says the key sites to examine in southeast Asia include Bagan in Burma, Anuradhapura and Pollonuruwa in Sri Lanka, Borobudur and Prambanan in Indonesia, Sukhothai in Thailand Sambor Prei Kuk and Koh Ker in Cambodia and My Son in Vietnam.

The Angkor map is the result of 15 years' work by scientists from Australia, France and Cambodia.It uncovers 74 new temples and more than 1000 new artificial ponds by correlating radar data with on-the-ground sampling.

The use of NASA technology and aerial photography from an ultralight plane helped the team survey areas that were inaccessible due to land mines, a legacy of the 1970s Cambodian war and Khmer Rouge regime.

The radar uncovers occupation sites by detecting differences in surface moisture and plant growth and species that are caused by topographical variations due to the presence of architectural remains.

Source: Dani Cooper, abc.net.au

Single Visa for ASEAN Nations

Are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) finally ready to work together in tourism by implementing a single entry visa for its travelers?

Malaysia's tourism minister has been busy making a compelling argument for a single entry visa to all ASEAN member countries.

Malaysian Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan said, "The Association of ASEAN Tour Agencies (ASTA) has agreed to pursue the matter to make it more conducive for tourists, especially long haul travelers who come to this part of the world.

”He added, "We are pushing for a single entry visa for tourists to ASEAN countries. A tourist visiting a member state will not need to apply for multiple visas to visit countries within the grouping.”

Malaysia is using its leadership in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Joint Tourism development Cluster program as its platform to push the proposal.

Malaysian tourism is in for a gold mine when the proposal gets the backing of ASEAN member states. Its fledgling low-cost long haul carrier AirAsia X sees Kuala Lumpur as the hub for the hordes of foreign visitors it expects to fly in when it starts service this September.

Meanwhile, Firefly, the budget carrier of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, is priming itself to make its mark on the Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and Pontianak, Makasar route in Indonesia.

Minister Adnan also disclosed official figures up to June show Malaysia has exceeded its projected total tourist arrivals for the Visit Malaysia Year campaign by 60 percent.

Source: YS, etn

Vast ancient settlement found at Angkor Wat

Aerial photos of remnants of Angkor settlement. Occupation mounds and ponds (upper left). Canals and embankments (upper right). Roadway and canal (lower left). Village temple area (lower right) (Image: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

A huge urban sprawl once surrounded Cambodia’s famous Angkor Wat temple, according to a newly created map. The scale of the settlement makes it more plausible that the inhabitants of Angkor brought on their own society's collapse through environmental degradation.

The new map uses data from high-resolution, ground-sensing radar and aerial photographs to augment extensive fieldwork. By detecting slight variations in vegetation and ground moisture due to underlying ruins, the radar reveals in unprecedented detail the location of temples - including 94 newly identified temple sites plus another 74 that have yet to be checked on the ground - ponds, roads and canals.Researchers in the Greater Angkor Project at the University of Sydney in Australia, together with colleagues in Australia, Cambodia and France, used the techniques to survey the entire watershed of the Angkor region.

The area covers nearly 3000 square kilometres, most of which is now blanketed with dense vegetation. Earlier maps suffered from problems with the resolution of aerial photographs and radar data, and from difficulties with accessing remote regions.

Urban Sprawl
The researchers found that about two thirds of this region was once occupied, making it by far the biggest pre-industrial settlement yet documented. The main urban district of about 1000 square kilometres was surrounded by suburbs that seem to spread far beyond the north-western and south-eastern borders of the study site.

In fact, says Damian Evans of the University of Sydney, “there is just no obvious boundary” for the settlement. The population of the area was probably around half a million, he adds, though earlier estimates of a million inhabitants - suggested in the 1970s - could still be correct.

Such extensive settlement may help explain why Angkor, which thrived between the 9th and 16th centuries, had been overwhelmed by vegetation by the time European explorers first encountered the site in the 1860s.

The main theory for Angkor’s abandonment is that the creation of an extensive water management system caused environmental damage that ultimately led to the failure of the system, leading to food shortages. That scenario now seems even more likely.

Canal System
“This new map lays out definitively what the system would have looked like - and shows that it was capable of significantly impacting on the local environment,” says Evans.

Local people cleared land, creating a complex system to move water from a region of high ground spanning about 500 square kilometres to storage reservoirs in the centre, and on, via canals, to irrigate about another 500 square kilometres of land to the south. This system would have allowed the society to produce surplus rice to feed workers engaged in building monuments such as Angkor Wat.

The new map also reveals apparent failures of the canal system, with multiple dykes at certain sites. “There is massive redundancy in the canal network - and that gives us an indication that things were going wrong,” says Evans.

Researchers have not yet dated these sites to confirm that they coincide with Angkor’s collapse, however. Nor is it clear what exactly might have gone wrong. “We have evidence of a huge water-management system that had the capacity to impact significantly on the environment," says Evans. "But at the moment, the actual evidence that it did so is pretty thin on the ground.”

Source : NewScientist.com news service
Emma Young, Sydney

Tourism chief wants Boracay restored as 'Garden of Eden'

Boracay - 'Garden of Eden'

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Sunday to help Boracay island regain its lost "Garden of Eden" state, aside from suspending new construction on the island.

"I welcome the concern Environment Secretary Lito Atienza has shown for the environmental welfare of Boracay. Since Boracay urgently needs restorative interventions, I urge him to also invest the resources of DENR in restorative programs and technologies aside from exercising its regulatory powers on the island," said Durano in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

The Department of Tourism's implementing arm, the Philippine Tourism Authority, also welcomed Atienza's move.

"We have been asking the local government for a moratorium because, you know, many resorts have mushroomed left and right on the island over the past months," PTA general manager Robert Dean Barbers told the Inquirer newspaper in a phone interview.

Many resorts also defied national laws and local ordinances relating to construction, commerce, environment and health, he said.

"We had to demolish a lot of illegal structures and we have been sued before the courts because some resorts refused to let our sewage and water pipes pass through their properties," Barbers said.

In April 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave the PTA administrative control over Boracay, to be exercised in coordination with the Aklan provincial government.

The PTA, among others, is empowered to formulate zoning regulations, determine zone enterprises, maintain the island's ecology and operate facilities in tourist zones like Boracay. The President declared Boracay a special tourism zone in 2005.

The PTA is spearheading the revision of the decades-old tourism master development plan for Boracay to strengthen the island's position as a premier tourist destination comparable to Thailand's Phuket and Indonesia's Bali.

Atienza last week put on hold new construction on Boracay island until its master development plan is completed in the next six months. Barbers, however, said the plan could be ready as early as next month.

Atienza issued the order as he called on the municipal government of Malay, which has jurisdiction over Boracay, to stop issuing construction permits for new projects.

He said the national government must step in to stop uncontrolled development on the island.

According to Barbers, the plan would cover the northern Aklan port town of Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay, and nearby Carabao Island, which also has beautiful beaches.

Source: globalnation.inquirer.net