Welcome to Cambodia: Cambodia Business News: Trade with Thailand increases

Trade with Thailand increases

Trade between Cambodia and Thailand increased by about 40 per cent to US$3 billion in the first nine months of this year in comparison with the same period last year, according to figures provided by the Royal Embassy of Thailand in Cambodia.

According to Nat Vimonchandra, a counsellor for the Thai embassy, factors influencing the increase in trade include greater consumption within Cambodia due to the ASEAN summit, increased tourist numbers and the growing economy.

“Cambodia’s economy has improved in every sector including agriculture, real estate, garments and tourism,” he said.

“That means the country needs to import materials, food, goods and fuel and energy a lot and Thailand is one of the major countries exporting to Cambodia.”

Nat also said the better political relationship between the two countries is another cause and more specifically, the commitment made in May this year to see a 100 per cent increase in trade between the two countries by 2015.

Economic land concessions have also prompted an increase in demand for machinery and vehicles, according to Praivan Limpanboon from the Thai Business Council of Cambodia.

“I would not rule out the factors in the country such as increases in ELCs which increased demand on vehicles, heavy-duty tractors, bulldozers and other agricultural equipment,” she said.

Praivan also noted that the increase in trade between Thailand and Cambodia was interesting because a report in Thailand showed the country’s exports in general are quite low.

Source: Phnompenhpost/ 5 November 2012

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Welcome to Cambodia: Cambodia Business News: Tourism in Siem Reap spikes 30 per cent

Tourism in Siem Reap spikes 30 per cent

International tourist arrivals in Siem Reap province soared considerably in an eight month period this year compared to previous years, according to an official.

Chhoeuy Chhan, Deputy Director of Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Department, said they in Siem Reap increased by more than 30 per cent.

According to official statistics, foreign tourists arriving totaled more than 1,365,000 in the last eight months, a 30.27 per cent increase compared with more than 1,048,000 the previous year.

Chhoeuy Chhan said at least 85 per cent among these tourists bought tickets to visit the Angkor Wat compound.

He said South Korean tourists, who score highest in the tourist arrivals, increased by 41.06 per cent, from more than 16,000 to over 23,000. Vietnamese tourists came in second, followed by Chinese, Japanese and Thai tourists.

Despite huge increases in numbers, the historical tourism site could still accommodate them because the province has 152 hotels consisting of more than 10,000 rooms, along with 220 guesthouses with more than 3,000 rooms.

“There are not enough rooms during the big national festivals,” he said, but generally there are enough.

There has been an increase in Vietnamese tourists arriving in Cambodia but their benefit is not as great as other foreign tourists, according to a tourism-related service provider.

Seng Phalkun, Managing Director of Travel Loops tour company and owner of Siem Reap-based Noon Night Market, said Vietnamese tourists spent little on souveniers and other service packages.

“Vietnamese are not good for business because their budget is still low," said Seng Phalkun.

“Service packages for Vietnamese are really cheap,” he said. “For example, the cost of a hotel room could be US$30, but for Vietnamese customers, it is $22 per night,” said Seng Phalkun.

On World Tourism Day 2012, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that in 2011 Cambodia received approximately 2.8 million international tourists, an increase of 16 per cent compared with last year.

For the first seven months of 2012, international tourist arrivals to Cambodia totaled about 2 million, an increase of 25 per cent.

Source: Phnompenhpost/01Oct2012

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