Vietnam could become the main gateway for tourists to Cambodia due to climbing political instability in Thailand, said many officials and leaders of travel agents in the Mekong Tourism Forum 2010 in Siem Reap last week.

The forum attracted the participation of more than 100 representatives in tourism from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Lao, and Yunnan (China). On the sidelines of the forum, a representative from the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism noted that violence in Bangkok encouraged the country tourism sector to diversify “input”.

Kounsoum Saroeuth, Secretary of state at the Ministry of Tourism said: “Before, Bangkok was the main gateway for tourists from Europe and from America. But because it has big problems, maybe tourists will use other gateways such as Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.”

Director of Phnom Penh-based First Travel, Mou Chhay told the Phnom Penh Post that travel agents must adapt or close if Thailand’s instability remains over the next three to five months. “Usually we have around 300 to 500 guests per month. Now we have only 50 to 70,” he said.

Statistics in April 2010 by the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism showed that the number of foreign tourist arrivals to the country increased by nearly 10% in the first quarter of 2010. Of this, the number of Vietnamese is 92,605 , a 28% increase compared to the first quarter of 2009.

In a related issue, a representative from Vietnam commercial affairs in Cambodia said Vietnam-Cambodia trade turnover in the first quarter of 2010 increased nearly 130%, to nearly USD 432 million. This is hoped to push the figure between the two countries to USD2 billion this year.

Vietnam’s major products exported to Cambodia include: vegetable, fruits, plastics, noodle, devices, building materials, agricultural machines, and fertilizer. While Cambodia exported garment and textile, and agricultural products such as wood, rubber, cashew, rice and corn.

(Source: cpv.org.vn)