Day: April 26, 2023

Phnom Penh capital was the most attractive destination in the third week of April, followed by Svay Rieng and Banteay Meanchey provinces.

According to a report of the Ministry of Tourism released this morning, among the 789,473 tourists counted during the said period, 121,736 were recorded in Phnom Penh capital, while the provinces of Svay Rieng and Banteay Meanchey welcomed 93,560 and 88,699 visitors, respectively.

The provinces of Battambang, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, and Siem Reap were also among the most popular tourist destinations last week, added the report.

Of the total registered tourists, the source pointed out, 753,708 were national tourists and 35,765 were internal foreign visitors.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Australian author Darryl Collins, who co-authored two groundbreaking books on Cambodia’s architectural heritage, died in Siem Reap on Wednesday, a friend said. He was 76.

Collins first came to Cambodia in 1994 as part of an Australian government grant to revitalise the National Museum in Phnom Penh.

After a year and a half, he briefly returned to Australia, resigned from his position at the National Gallery in Canberra, and returned to Cambodia and the museum in 1996.

Between 1998 and 2002, Collins lectured at the Department of Archaeology at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.

Over the next two years, he worked as a part-time advisor to the Department of Culture and Research at the APSARA National Authority in Siem Reap.

Between 2004 and 2013, he served as the National Museum staff manager for inventory and database projects which digitally recorded and photographed the museum’s entire collection.

For his first book on Cambodian architecture — “Building Cambodia: New Khmer Architecture 1953-1970”, published in 2006 — Collins collaborated with British architect Helen Grant Ross.

His second book — “Cambodian Wooden Houses: 1,500 Years of Khmer Heritage”, published last year — was a joint project with Cambodian architect Hok Sokol, who also helped research the first publication.

H.E. Chea Sophara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, praised the second book as a “rich document that showcases the history, evolution as well as techniques, traditions and elaborate motifs developed by Khmer workers of wood over the past fifteen centuries.”

Writing in the book’s preface, he said it was “crucial” for Cambodians — especially younger generations — “to ensure they understand, and appreciate the need for preserving their heritage.

“In addition, my wish is that this book will become a useful resource for appreciation, exploration and research in the ASEAN region as well as throughout the world,” the Deputy Prime Minister wrote.

Collins left Phnom Penh in 2006 after buying a wooden house on Koh Pi Island in the Mekong River in Kampong Cham province and transporting it to Siem Reap where it was rebuilt near Wat Damnak. He conserved another two wooden houses which now stand on the outskirts of Siem Reap.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodia is hosting the 2023 Mekong Tourism Forum from April 24-28 in Preah Sihanouk, one of the country’s four coastal provinces, giving floor to relevant stakeholders and Mekong riparian countries to discuss the recovery of safe and sustainable tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Themed “Rethinking for Resilience and Digitalisation”, the Mekong Tourism Forum 2023 was held at the Independence Hotel, Sihanoukville with the participation of more than 250 delegates form 19 countries.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony this morning, H.E. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, expressed his pleasure and honour to warmly welcome the presence of delegates and guests from 19 countries to the Mekong Tourism Forum 2023.

“This forum is a comprehensive cooperation forum of GMS between the government, policy makers, institutes, experts, relevant authorities, stakeholders, private and public sector in the tourism industry to discuss and share best practices, experiences, situations of tourism development, marketing study and tourism promotion in the GMS area,” he said.

The Cambodian tourism minister expressed the expectation that key stakeholders from the public and private sectors will create a unique opportunity to promote innovative and collaborative frameworks for the recovery of tourism towards Persevere in the post-crisis era of Covid-19 and bring back what was lost in tourism, especially business and tourism revenue.

In 2022, Cambodia received more than 2.28 million international tourists, including 1.5 million from GMS countries, earning about US$1.415 billion. The Kingdom also recorded nearly 14 million domestic tourists, generating some US$650 million.

The main agenda of the Mekong Tourism Forum 2023 is planned to be presented by international experts on two topics, including: Rethinking Tourism – a pathway for building back better and stronger and Rethinking Food System – a lever to protect the planet.

The Mekong Tourism Forum is a programme within the framework of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation, focusing on strengthening and promoting public-private partnerships (PPP) in the field of tourism, aiming to develop products and the promoting of the Greater Mekong Subregion to become a common destination and provide a new and unique experience for tourists.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

More than 30 journalists from 19 media outlets in Cambodia have been visiting Preah Sihanouk province from April 25 to 27 to seek understanding on the province’s potential sectors.

The media visit, led by Mr. Puy Kea, President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ), is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration.

During their three-day stay in the coastal province, journalists have been arranged to visit the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and the Wastewater Treatment Plant on the first day.

On the second day, they attended press conferences at Koh Krabei, Koh Rong, Prek Kaong Kang where H.E Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and H.E. Kuoch Chamroeun, Governor of Preah Sihanouk province, updated them on the potential tourism sector and latest developments in the sector.

The last day, led by H.E. Long Dimanche, Deputy Governor of Preah Sihanouk province, the journalists are scheduled to visit Koh Ream and Koh Sampoch.

The media visit is aimed to promote the potential of Preah Sihanouk province and attract more tourists and investors through the media lens.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse