Week 573

Friday, 15.8.2008: Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos Join to Promote Tourism in the Triangle Zone

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 573

“Phnom Penh: Experts in tourism from state institutions from several provinces of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos met together on 8 August 2008 in Gia Lai province, Vietnam, to seek methods to promote tourism in the Triangle Zone of the three countries.

“Mr. Tra Nut Seang, the director of the Ratanakiri provincial tourism office, who attended the meeting with other delegates from Mondolkiri and Stung Treng, said that this meeting focused on the Green Triangle Zone which covers ten provinces. These ten provinces are Ratanakiri, Mondolkiri, and Stung Treng in Cambodia, Attapu (also Attapeu – ອັດຕະປື), Xekong (also Sekong – ເຊກອງ), and Salavan (also Saravane – ສາລະວັນ) in Laos, and Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Đăk Lăk, and Đăk Nông in Vietnam. The meeting sought to identify the needs to promote tourism in each province in the Green Triangle Zone of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, like to find agreements on joint requests which had been sent to the governments of each country, to facilitate the provision of visas for tourists, and to construct infrastructure for tourism in this zone. As for the Cambodia side, Mr. Tra Nut Seang said that our country has difficulties of traveling, which makes it necessary to improve the national road from Ang Snuol, Kartie, to Mondolkiri and to the border with Vietnam, as well as a road from O Pong Moan in Ratanakiri to the border.

“After the meeting, the delegations will continue to visit the provinces of each country before making a final report about the requirements to donor countries.

“Mr. Thok Sokhom, head of the Heritage Triangle Zone program [for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand], said that the Imperial Government of Japan announced in 2007 to grant approx. Yen 1,000 million, approx. US$10 million, to promote the development of tourism in the Green Triangle Zone. Out of this grant, Cambodia received approx. US$700,000 as the first step to construct tourist stations at a Cambodian-Vietnamese border crossing point and at a Cambodian-Laos border crossing point.

“To contribute to promote understanding about tourism, experts of the Mekong Sub-Region, including Gai Mary, Nec Rice, and Mr. Benny Rosenbloom [all phonetic] had cooperated with each other to write and publish a tourist guide book with 148 pages which presents tourist activities in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

“Mr. Thong Khon, the Minister of Tourism, said that tourists visiting Cambodia during the first six months of 2008 increased by 13%, compared to the same period in 2007, which had more than 1.1 million tourists. Among them were 67,502 tourists from Thailand.

“Mr. Thong Khon predicted that tourists from Thailand will decline because of the disputes between both countries over the Preah Vihear Temple.

“However, the Minister of Tourism said that Cambodia plans to attract tourists to stay for longer periods and plans to promote developments of other tourist attraction areas. It should be noted that in 2007, the number of tourists to Cambodia increased to more than 2 million, earning approx. US$1,260 million for Cambodia, and employing more than 30,000 citizens. There were 360 hotels in 2007, and more than 300 tourist agencies.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1720, 15.8.2008

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 15 August 2008


Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1720, 15.8.2008

  • Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos Join to Promote Tourism in the Triangle Zone
  • Cambodia and Siam [Thailand] Agreed to Withdraw Troops from the Preah Vihear Temple Region on 16 August 2008 [after negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand in the Thai province of Surin on 13 August 2008]
  • Thai Court Plans to Create an International Extradition Request to Have [the ousted Prime Minister] Thaksin Delivered Back to the Country [from the United Kingdom]
  • Russia Violates the Cease-Fire with Georgia [as Russian military cars and tanks continue to stay in some main cities of Georgia]; the United States Sends Aid to Refugees [13 August 2008]


Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #222, 15.8.2008

  • [Opposition Party president] Sam Rainsy Asks for Data from [the secretary-general of the National Election Committee] Im Suosdey about the Identification Certificates Issued Using Form 1018


Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6434, 15.8.2008

  • [Cambodian People’s Party president and president of the Senate] Samdech Chea Sim Asked [the Ministry of Health] to Find the Reasons Why People Seek Medical Treatment Outside of the Country
  • [Seven] Khmer Kampuchea Krom Organizations and Associations Oppose the House Arrest of Mr. Tim Sakhan [imposed by Vietnamese Authorities]
  • [The chairman of the Democratic Party of the State of Arkansas of the United States of America [Mr. Bill Gwatney] Was Shot Dead [13 August 2008]


Rasmei Angkor, Vol.11, #1347, 15.8.2008

  • Mr. Sok Kimheng, Director of the New Market, May Be Removed from His Position [by the Phnom Penh Municipality] Because of Corruption and for Putting Vendors under Stress


Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4668, 15.8.2008

  • Google Earth: The Ta Moan Temple Is in Khmer Territory
  • Wife and Daughter of Mr. Nao Thuok [director of the Fisheries Department and advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen] Was Robbed [by two robbers with two short guns taking jewelries worth approx. US$20,000]
  • Self-Made Explosives to Destroy the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument [in 2007]: Two Accused Convicted to Serve 17 Years in Prison and Three Others to Serve 15 Years
  • Russia Had Told the United States to Choose between Moscow and Georgia


Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3385, 15.8.2008

  • The Thai Embassy [in Cambodia] Explained that the Confrontation of Troops at the Borders Does Not Involve the Institution of the Thai King [according to an explanation sent by the embassy to Samleng Yuvachun Khmer in response to an article]

Click here to have a look at the last editorial – really changes to be expected?

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