THAILAND, CAMBODIA RENEW TOURISM PACT

Thailand and Cambodia have renewed their bilateral Agreement for Implementation of Tourism Co-operation for the year 2001-2002 to facilitate visitor arrivals to and within the two countries.

The agreement was signed by Cambodian Tourism Minister Veng Sereyvuth and Thailand's Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Adisai Bodharamik who visited Phnom Penh between 27-29 July 2000. Mr Adisai is also Chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

It will see the two countries undertaking a series of co-operative tourism marketing ventures designed to position them both under the new slogan of “Two Kingdoms, One Destination.”

The joint marketing campaign will be backed by production of marketing collaterals and brochures, plus organisation of familiarisation trips for travel agents and travel writers.

Both the TAT and the Ministry of Tourism will continue joint surveys of tourism routes to develop package tours that will combine attractions of the two countries utilising air, land and sea transportation networks between Thailand and Cambodia.

The routes are as follows:

a. Bangkok - Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet – Sisophon – Siem Reap;

b. Bangkok – Trat – Baan Haadlek/Koh Kong – Sihanouk Ville –

Phnom Penh – Siem Reap – Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet –

Bangkok.

The two national tourism organisations will organise meetings for the tourism operators of the two countries to discuss ways to develop package tours that combine the attractions of both countries.

Said Mr Adisai, “We also discussed the possibility of launching a joint Khmer Cultural Tourism Route. The TAT has finalised a suggested itinerary on the Thai side and proposed it to our Cambodian counterparts to come up with a matching itinerary on their side.

“Once finalised, the entire circuit covering both sides of the border can become one of the best-selling tour packages in the region,”

Mr. Adisai said. An Implementing Technical Group will be set up to formulate and execute all above-mentioned activities as well as facilitate frontier formalities.

TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien said the bilateral marketing campaign will supplement, not replace, existing activities being undertaken through the Greater Mekong Subregion tourism forums.

“Both Cambodia and Thailand are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as the GMS, so any activities we undertake on a bilateral level will be carefully organised to ensure no duplication and waste of resources,” the Governor said.

In addition to marketing and infrastructure related issues, the Thai-Cambodia tourism pact also includes matters covering destination development and human resources.

The agreement commits the TAT to help Cambodian tourism authorities with the development of the Tourism Master Plan for the Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri Provinces of Cambodia.

The plan will be finalised by the first week of September 2000.

The TAT will also grant three scholarships for technical trips and training for Cambodian tourism personnel to participate in training courses on Hotel and Resort Management, Food and Beverage and Training the Trainer for Professional Tour Guide.

Mr Adisai added, “It was a pleasure to get acquainted with my counterparts in Cambodia and renew this very important agreement. Both Thailand and Cambodia have a lot to gain from each other and we are working hard to ensure all parts of the agreement are duly implemented.”