As tourism ministers and industry delegates from neighboring countries begin
arriving in Phnom Penh ahead of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), the Post spoke to
Minister of Tourism Veng Sereyvuth about his plan to attract more tourists.
Sereyvuth also shared his views on terrorism,
sex tourists, poverty and theme
parks.
The government declared 2003 as 'Visit Cambodia Year' and is hoping the
international travel spotlight will focus on the country. Sereyvuth says the
January 20-28 forum is a "golden opportunity" to kick-start this
campaign.
ëASEAN needs a regional mechanism to respond to times of crisis.í
"The ASEAN Tourism Forum itself is an opportunity for Cambodia
to show the world of its potential in tourism," Sereyvuth says. "More than 1,000
[delegates] will see it, and as we all say, seeing is believing.
"On top
of that you have press, international press now reaching 100 in total. They are
going to expose the country to their networks, so the industry will have a
better knowledge, a better understanding of the country."
At the top of
the agenda will be implementing the signed ASEAN Tourism Agreement, which, among
other things, aims to make travel throughout the region easier. Sereyvuth says
that he wants to focus on increasing the number of intra-ASEAN travelers by
pushing for agreement on visa exemptions for Southeast Asian
residents.
"I propose to ASEAN countries to ... give a good look at free
travel for ASEAN nationals. That really will help to promote free flow of ASEAN
tourists," he says. "You are talking about 550 million consumers in the ASEAN
region. That is a very strong market, a lot of population. So why don't we look
seriously ... at an agreement by ASEAN countries, to state a date for free visas
for all."
Second on Sereyvuth's list for the tourism forum is regional
safety and security for tourists, in light of the current global focus on
terrorism and last October's Bali bombings. He says the entire region is
affected by conflicts such as that between Pakistan and India.
"The world
we are living in is a very crazy world right now," he says. "Safety and security
for tourists is very, very important right now. Bali is on our doorstep and
ASEAN has to recognize that.
"I don't foresee war in this region of a
Pakistan-India nature or an Iraq war, I don't foresee such an event. I certainly
feel that tourism has no border, but terrorism also has no border. We need to be
careful about that."
So what should be done to counter the threat of
terrorism?
"The answer is a [regional] mechanism that we can put in
place to respond in times of crisis," he says. "So the mechanism is to have
senior officials from all countries to take charge. I want to establish an ASEAN
website that concentrates on giving information to the private sector that will
use that information to give to their networks."
Sereyvuth says that
currently there is no common mechanism to respond to crises and each country
simply undertakes separate, uncoordinated initiatives.
"When Bali came
into it, then we were really struggling to find a way to respond to it, so that
is why I propose this [mechanism]. To me it is more systematic," he says.
Representatives from China, Korea and Japan will join the ASEAN
ministers at a 'plus three' forum. It is a move designed to increase visitors
these countries to Southeast Asia - the fact that millions of "rich Koreans,
rich Chinese and rich Japanese" travel, makes their countries important source
markets.
In addition, Sereyvuth explains, ASEAN nations have the
potential to capitalize on the millions of tourists who travel to China every
year.
"China will be the most popular destination by the year 2020 in the
world," he says. "You are talking about millions of tourists coming to China.
The spill-over will be of enormous economic benefit to the whole
region."
Despite the government's attempts to portray Cambodia as an
ideal destination, the problems of loose law enforcement, readily available
visas and a weak judicial system have resulted in many viewing it instead as a
haven for sex tourists.
The Minister of Women's Affairs, Mu Sochua, says
the country is on the child sex tourism map. She wants strict law enforcement in
brothel areas such as the notorious Svay Pak village on the outskirts of Phnom
Penh.
There has been no shortage of high profile cases - disgraced former
rock star Gary Glitter was deported at the end of last year after he was deemed
a "threat to minors". Several other foreigners are awaiting trial on charges of
sex with underage girls.
Sereyvuth readily admits the country has a
problem with sex tourism, which carries an enormous cost by deterring "normal"
tourists from visiting.
"I'm outraged at this stuff and also at the
internet that gives out information specifically about child sex," says
Sereyvuth. "My proposal is that the authorities must take appropriate measures
in all these places. They must be punished for their crimes and the punishment
must be severe to send a proper signal to these people that they will pay the
price if they do it."
As the major growth industry, tourism is touted as
vital for reducing poverty. Yet many feel the benefits gained stay with private
companies and do not reach the poor.
The minister, however, sees it
differently. He maintains that tourism provides income for medium and small
industry and also to local villagers. Part of that comes via rapid
infrastructure development, which is opening up the country and providing
employment.
"Tourism generates a lot of benefits to the guy down the
street, down in the village," he explains. "Be it the vegetable grower, or
handicraft [seller], the moto taxi [drivers] in the village, the spread is
enormous.
"How many workers are in the construction companies? They are
not rich Chinese, rich Cambodians, not sons of ministers or sons of generals -
they are village people, and now they are getting 70 to 80 dollars a month, and
this is poverty reduction."
The latest figures show a rapid increase in
the numbers of people traveling to Cambodia. Around 790,000 in 2002, up from
604,000 in 2001. Sereyvuth confidently predicts a million tourists will visit
this year. By 2006, he expects 2.2 million arrivals will generate over a billion
dollars in income for the country.
Yet once here, the average tourist
stays just four or five days before jetting off on a package tour or to a
neighboring country. But the ministry has several plans to keep them here
longer.
"Number one, I think we should go for conferences, conventions,"
he says. "Number two, we should go for theme parks to cater for tourists, for
Cambodians and for expatriates. This will include entertainment, food,
everything. People will be willing to pay at night or during the day time
because they want to enjoy.
"Thirdly we need to go for more tourism
sites, to provide more choices, to make our market more attractive," Sereyvuth
explains. "That is why we are moving to Ratanakkiri, to the eastern part of
Cambodia, to beautify Phnom Penh, do more things around Angkor Wat, around
Sihanoukville."
Sereyvuth believes that focusing on Cambodia's
particular attractions is very important, but he views the country as just one
stop on the regional travel circuit. As such, its relationships with the nine
other ASEAN countries are vital to its continued marketing
success.
"You've got to look beyond your borders. The tourism industry is
about linking up with all your neighbors," he says. "We are talking about
multiple choices, abundance of resources, convenience for travelers to move in
and out, transnational. It makes sense for tourists to travel and see as much as
they can."
Sereyvuth says that Asia gets 18 percent of the world's
tourism market, America takes 20 percent and Europe takes about 58 percent of
the 680 million arrivals worldwide.
"Regional markets are very, very
important for these countries to benefit from tourism," he says. "In order to
make this region more successful in the world market you have to combine your
resources. You have to talk, cooperate on marketing, on products."
So
does the need for closer regional links justify the estimated $1.8 million the
government will spend on hosting the ATF? Sereyvuth is adamant that the presence
of more than 1,000 delegates, as well as related media coverage will provide
"priceless" amounts of exposure for the country. He says the event will "go a
long, long way for the Cambodian tourism industry in the future".
The
outlook is rosy beyond the forum. In five years, he predicts, the tourism market
will have fully developed. He is keen to point out just how important his
ministry is.
"You are talking about millions of arrivals, hundreds of
thousands of workforce in this region, so many skills in this industry. At the
end of the day, billions of revenue," he says. "Tourism is the answer for the
future of this country. It is the most active and most powerful force in the
economy."
And, he says, Cambodia has a great deal to offer.
"In
terms of competing in the industry - we have everything," Sereyvuth concludes.
"We are abundant in tourism products, and we have the people of Cambodia with
the Cambodian smile, forthcoming and friendly. It is a major asset for
tourism."
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