Cambodia gains air route to Japan
PHNOM PENH, 3 June 2016: An upcoming direct air service between Japan and Cambodia will boost travel demand between the two countries.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) will launch daily flights between Tokyo (Narita) and Phnom Penh effective 1 September.
Agence Kampuchea Presse quoted Deputy Prime Minister, Sok An, saying direct flights between Phnom Penh and Tokyo would promote tourism and related sectors. A direct flight would enable Japanese tourist and business travellers to cut out a transfer to connecting services in Bangkok. Read more
Cambodia signs MoU with Macau
PHNOM PENH, 2 June 2016: Cambodia and Macau signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Monday, to collaborate on tourism development.
Xinhua news agency reported the MoU, identified human resources development in tourism and exchange visits.
Macau will provide scholarships for Cambodian government officials and students to embark on undergraduate studies in tourism in Macau for three years. Read more
Cambodia tough on smokers
PHNOM PENH, 30 May 2016: Cambodia will ramp up effort to end smoking in public places by imposing fines on both individuals and businesses, effective this September.
Phnom Penh Post reported that the Ministry of Health will run a campaign to explain recent legislation that bans smoking in public places. Once the campaign ends the law will be strictly enforced against smokers and establishments, mainly restaurants and hotels. Fines will be imposed from 16 September.
Under the sub-decree, approved in March, establishments will face a USD12.50 fine if they fail to put up no smoking signs, or they provide ashtrays for customers. Smokers will be fined USD5. Read more
Cambodia proposes Moscow flights
PHNOM PENH, 26 May 2016: Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen said he is backing a proposal to establish scheduled direct flights between Russia and Cambodia.
Phnom Penh Post reported that the first direct flight might land at the coastal town of Sihanoukville, rather than the capital Phnom Penh.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon was quoted saying Cambodia has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for direct flights in 2015, and last week’s talks should speed up implementation. Read more
Cambodia tourism grows 2.6%
PHNOM PENH, 19 May 2016: Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered an increase of 2.6% during January to March, this year, according to the Statistics and Tourist Information Department.
Released by the Ministry of Tourism, Tuesday, the country recorded 1,342,477 international visits during the first quarter compared to 1,307,836 visits during the same period last year.
Outbound trips by Cambodians reached 328,347 growing 33.0% for the first three months of the year from 246,912 trips last year. Read more
Cambodia considers airport link
PHNOM PENH, 17 May 2016: Cambodia’s Royal Railways is conducting a feasibility study on establishing a commuter rail service to run between the capital’s airport and the central district.
The company holds a 30-year concession to operate all railway networks in the country.
Phnom Penh Post quoted Royal Railways CEO, John Guiry, saying the project was just a small “tram service”. Read more
Cambodia will introduce multiple tourist visas
PHNOM PENH, 12 May 2016: Cambodia’s government has confirmed it will issue three- year multiple visas to Chinese and South Korean tourists to boost travel from these two key source markets.
Agence Kampuchea Presse reported, Wednesday, that the Ministry of Tourism proposed the user friendly multiple visa to support repeat tourism that will help attract more visitors and investors.
The news report did not elaborate on when the new visa would be introduced but it has been under discussion since earlier this year. Read more