Cambodia 'stands to lose B40bn' income

Published: 10/11/2009 at 11:26 AM
Online news: Local News

Cambodia could lose 30 to 40 billion baht in tourism income as the latest conflict with Thailand is driving Thai and foreign tourists away, Apichart Sangka-aree, an adviser to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said on Tuesday.

“On the tourism front, Cambodia will face stronger negative impact from the dispute than Thailand.

''European tourists are now refraining from visiting Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and are instead visiting the Northeast of Thailand, which has a similar culture and tourist attractions,'' Mr Apichart said.

Charoen Wang-ananont, chairman of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), took the same tone, saying 95 per cent of Thai tourists who had booked tour packages to Cambodia in advance have now cancelled or delayed their trip.

“We found that 20 per cent of them changed their destination to Laos and another 10 per cent to Burma,” Mr Charoen said. The tourist attractions that coincidently gained benefits from the conflict included Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champasak.

More than 600, 000 Thais visited Cambodia last year and they spent about 7,000 baht each, while only 60,000 Cambodian traveled to Thailand, according to the TTAA chairman.

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Richard

Discussion 28 : 17/11/2009 at 09:38 PM28
"COULD"? It could also be nothing. More drivel from a Thai Quango representative with wild assumptions and numbers pulled out of thin air, regurgitated as "news" by the BP. Will you people never learn?
justin

Discussion 27 : 17/11/2009 at 05:34 PM27
This article is Ridiculous at best
Double Ngo Ngu

Discussion 26 : 17/11/2009 at 11:10 AM26
No problem for Cambodge gomen, this amount of
lost income can be easily offset by some brilliant
money making ideas from their latest super economics guru Taxsin. They can sit back & relax !
Bill W

Discussion 25 : 17/11/2009 at 09:35 AM25
The way the Thai government is going, Thailand stands more to lose than Cambodia.
Cambodia looks far more stable!At least their government doesn't stand by and watch the airports get closed and tourists held for hours because of self serving thugs!
math people

Discussion 24 : 16/11/2009 at 07:24 PM24
discussion 5. your right indeed the numbers dont seem to match up 600,000 averaging 7,000 B per head comes to 4.2 billion baht. quite the far sight short of 30-40 billion Baht which is over $1 billion. dubious statistics indeed.
Tara

Discussion 23 : 14/11/2009 at 01:00 PM23
If tourism is down in Cambodia (which I doubt)it is probably due to the fact that many western tourists liked to visit Thailand and then jump over to Cambodia and Angkor Wat but now they aren't visiting Thailand which is hurting Cambodia indirectly.
The airport take over will not be soon forgotten and appointing one of the key leaders to head the foreign ministry was not only a slap in the face to Thailand but to every tourist visiting or intending to visit. The strong Baht is stopping Thailand from being the bargain it once was and problems at the airport with scams and set ups just make things worse, not to mention the frequent street demonstrations.
Sympathy from Thailand's neighbors and the world of tourism is definitely not with Thailand.
Looking in

Discussion 22 : 13/11/2009 at 10:38 PM22
Boon (#17) said "Well, go ahead and do it (close the border). Cambodian can take over the running of tourism business and other businesses. International businessmen will also be most delighted to have a share of the cake. They would also promote and expand their businesses".

You don't get it! Virtually every tourist who visits Cambodia transits through Thailand. Some come from Vietnam, but far fewer than from Thailand. Furthermore, tourism is the number 2 revenue maker for Cambodia after textile manufacturing. If Thailand decides to close it's borders, then the tourists can't get there. So the Cambodians and international businessmen will be taking over the running of.....nothing....
Soi Ma

Discussion 21 : 13/11/2009 at 03:45 PM21
Let's see...30/40 billion bhat...humm...about $100,000,000 dollars plus or minus for you math and Forex people. Do you really believe this number? If so, where are they spending it and on what commodity? Beer, hotels, food, transportation,tours of Angkor Wat,Jimmy Carter's habitat for the humanity, massage...that's a lot of tour dollars IMO. I think not to be believed. However, if these two keep this thing revved up enough we may see tourist dollars departing at an even more rapid pace than already exists in both countries. Nothing like a calm, peaceful non-political vacation for everyone to look forward to. Nice work POLITICO'S.
frequentflier

Discussion 20 : 13/11/2009 at 01:53 PM20
Having been to Angkor Wat three times in my life, there is nothing to match it anywhere on this planet (along with the other Angkors). I dont for one minute believe it will stop western tourists from visiting this wonder of the world.

Re #3. No its all change in Siem Reap!! The place had become the ultimate 'in' tourist destination.
The road in from the airport is now lined with hotels all the way into town.
ricefieldradio

Discussion 19 : 11/11/2009 at 12:25 AM19
Karma - If you are poor but your daughter is beautiful and your neighbor is rich with a ugly girl who will have a line up to visit?

Angkor Wat was one of the finalists for New Wonders of the World and Thailand didn't even have anything on the list. BTW the Northeast used to be Khermer..LOL