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Opening Speech by His Excellency Mr. Sok An
Senior Minister, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers And Chairman of the Cambodian National Tourism Authority
at the 1998-2002 Tourism Review Conference and Objectives ahead for 2003 Phnom Penh, 7th May 2003
Your Royal Highnesses
Excellencies
Distinguished national and international guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today I am honored to preside over the Four-year Tourism Review Conference and Objectives ahead for 2003, which is organized by the Ministry of Tourism. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian National Tourism Authority. I would like to highly appreciate the utmost efforts deployed by the leadership and officials of the Minis" of Tourism in the fulfillment of their mission whereby it brings about fruitful outcome in the past few years, namely the ASEAN Tourism Agreement (ATA) was concluded by the leaders of ASEAN in November 2002, the successful organization of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2003 and the declaration of Visit Cambodia Year 2003 in January 2003 in collaboration with Ministries, institutions and authorities concerned and private sectors for the sake of tourism development in Cambodia.
As Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen are aware that with the development of regional and global trend, tourism has obviously demonstrated its role as a non-smoke industry that can bring in lots of foreign currency and has become a driving force for the development of national, regional and global economy at present as well as in the future. Tourism is labor-intensive and plays a role in providing employment opportunity to people and contributes to reducing poverty and unemployment rate. In addition, with its tourism a country can expand its economic foundation through linking agriculture, industry and services whereby regional income disparity and workforce can be bridged. This is because most regions appropriate for tourism development are virtually located far from main economic centers. Furthermore, while a country is experiencing the economic crisis, tourism can partly resolve it by improving the living standard of people.
Based on the world tourism market for the past years and recent report made by World Tourism Organization, it reveals that the number of tourists traveling worldwide accounts for 715 millions, which increases by 3.1% if compared to 2001. On the other hand, the tourists traveling to East Asia and the Pacific accounts for 130.6 millions equivalent to 18.3% of the global tourists, hence increases by 7.9%. In conjunction with the world tourism development trend in 2002, Cambodia absorbed 800,000 tourists, which increases by 30%; and the number of tourist was still increasing by 30% In January 2003 if compared to January 2002. In the same place domestic tourists are noticeably increasing by two times than the total foreign tourists. The tourism growth is made possible by the utmost efforts of the Royal Government to ensure security, stability and social order and to vigorously develop physical infrastructure such as national road, land-filled road, bridge, port and airport...etc.
Your Royal Highnesses
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Other than Angkor complex, Cambodia has many more natural tourism resorts and temples that are tourism attractive destinations. With her cultural potential, an ancient heritage, and enormous natural resources, Cambodia can become a world cultural and natural tourism destination.
To compete in attracting tourists to come to Cambodia, the Royal Government has launched a series of critical policies such as Open Sky Policy, Open-intemational-land-and Sea-Checkpoint Policy, policy of issuance of visa to foreign tourists on arrival (Visa On Arrival) and the policy to waive visa for Cambodian nationals who are living abroad (Visa K) ... etc. We have drafted a Tourism Control Law and it is now submitted to inter-ministerial meeting, and we hope that this law will be finalized soon.
In addition, the Royal Government is focusing on the rehabilitation and development of tourism-related infrastructure. In 2002 Pochentong International Airport, which is now changed to Phnorn Penh International Airport, and Siem Reap International Airport have ended their first phase and they have become the ones that can meet the international standard and can accommodate many tourists every year. In its first phase, Slhanouk Ville Airport has also been renovated to accommodate ATF plane, yet it is not put for use. National roads and bridges liking the international checkpoints are being, rehabilitated and reconstructed so as to connect Cambodian economy to our neighboring countries, particularly for tourism purposes. Some land-filled roads leading to some tourism resorts are under construction and restoration; Phnom Penh tourism port is being reorganized; and Slhanouk Ville port is expanding its capacity. In the same manner, Rounds of negotiation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and some countries in the region and Europe are underway in order to ultimately conclude Aerial Agreement regarding the direct flight to Cambodia. Our focus on renovation and development of tourism is a real hope for the development of our country in the future.
Your Royal Highnesses
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
In January 2003, foreign tourists who visited Cambodia continue to go up by 30% (76,255) if compared to January 2001. However since February, taking into account the possible war on Iraq led to steady decrease because some tourists cancelled their flight due to personal security and safety. An estimation conducted by the World Tourism Organization shows that war in Iraq will only retard the growth of tourism, but it will not cause the downfall of tourism. Unfortunately another phenomenon simultaneously emerging in the region and in some countries is SARS that is seriously affecting regional and world economy, particularly tourism industry. Many airlines in the world have reduced their flights, and many hotels virtually have no guests. World Health Organization (WHO) as well as some sources reported that 6,070 people have so far been infected with SARS, and 419 people have died from SARS. On 29 April 2003 the leaders of ASEAN were meeting in Bangkok and were discussing measures for individual countries and common measures that are required to work together to prevent the spread of SARS.
The impact of SARS influences the mood of tourists who want to travel to Asia. Fortunately Cambodia and some other countries with big market do not exist SARS cases, namely Japan; nevertheless the concern of tourists that they mill get infected by this disease, afraid to travel, and the fact that Cambodia does not have direct flight with these countries it leads to the decrease of tourists in Cambodia, which is the impact of SARS.
Presented with this context, I have a conviction that Cambodia has full peace and safety and in conjunction with Visit Cambodia Year 2003, tourism promotion in all forms is very prerequisite at this stage.
I am fully supportive and agree to the Visit Cambodia Year program, which is being organized by the Ministry of Tourism, and I also call upon civil sector to actively get involved so that tourists have confidence and continuingly travel to Cambodia.
Moreover we have many things to be done, particularly the implementation of ASEAN Tourism Agreement (ATA) that is aimed at developing a sustainable and quality- rich tourism in the region and Cambodia itself where required to focus on the facilitation in travel and transport, security and safety, tourism information sharing (ACTT), tourism with quality, human resources development, prevention of adverse impact on tourism, acceleration of the process of adoption and enforcement of Tourism Law and the planned Visit Cambodia Year 2003.
I am hopeful that in light of full peace, all sectors will be further developed in which physical infrastructure is given high and ongoing attention, therefore tourism will prosper. Cambodia will become an important natural and cultural tourism destination in the region, which can contribute to the development of tourism in ASEAN and Asia as a whole.
To contribute to the development of tourism in the future, I wish Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen to give constructive recommendations for the sustainable tourism development, the protection of environment, culture and nature, the improvement of the fundamental and strategic services for the competition in the market, the participation in the promotion of Cambodia, particularly in the Visit Cambodia Year and to share more comments and measures regarding the rehabilitation and promotion of tourism in circumstances where SARS is threatening outside of the country.
To conclude, I would like to wish Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen happiness and success.
I have the honor to declare the Tourism Review Conference open.
Thank you,