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Tourism triangle
(this article originally appeared as a part of
Crown Jewels of the Greater Mekong Region)
The government continues to plug the "tourism triangle" linking the capital of Phnom Penh with Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor temples, and the future beach resort of Sihanoukville. Major hotel developers have already committed to projects in siem Reap but only three new hotels, all smaller locally-managed properties, have opened in the last year.
In Phnom Penh, hotel rates have slipped with the more upmarket properties bracing for the opening of the Inter-Continental Phnom Penh early next year.
Security has improved, according to those in the business. Members of the industry stressed that tourists should stay on the beaten path just as they would in New York or London.
Abacus moves into Cambodia
Abacus Distribution Systems has launched a pilot project with five leading Cambodian travel agents, becoming the first major CRS to crack the Cambodian market. It appears that Abacus made the move to beat arch rival Amadeus, which reportedly was on the verge of launching its own project in Cambodia.
According to a statement from the company, Abacus is now finalizing discussions with Royal Air Cambodge (RAC) to set up a joint venture national marketing company in Cambodia. Meanwhile, agents are completing training in Singapore and have cut over to the system. Another five could be added at a later date depending on how the pilot project goes.
Diethelm Travel Cambodia, Royal Phnom Penh Travel, Eurasia Travel, Transair, and CK International will all participate in the first phase. Modelled after its project launched in Thailand last December, agents will run Windows based Abacus Whiz workstation software. Agents have welcomed the move as step in the right direction.
Japan to bridge Mekong at Kompong Cham
Japan, the most generous of Cambodia's international aid donors, is keen to finish first in the race to make the most of its economic potential. For Tokyo, which will pump $19 million into Cambodia next year, Cambodia is strategically placed at the heart of the Mekong basin which it sees as vital if Southeast Asia is to keep booming.
It is essential for Cambodia's future growth to rehabilitate and develop its two-lane road network. Kompong Cham is indispensable to this. Cham is the gateway to Laos and the northeastern provinces of Cambodia,' said Akita Kaneko, a Japanese advisor to the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
"And after we have solved the problem of security and rehabilitation the northwest, Kompong Cham will be the crossroads in Cambodia for international transport throughout the Mekong basin." Kaneko stressed how important a road network is to the undeveloped north-east and to the overall future of the nation.
At present, the main way to reach the northeast is by plane,' he said. "Every capital should be connected to its outlying provinces by road."