Thursday, 27 November 2008

Thai political crisis 'disastrous' for Cambodian tourism

The Earth Times

Thu, 27 Nov 2008
Author : DPA

Phnom Penh-The seizure of Thailand's main international airport by protesters Wednesday left thousands of travelers stranded in Cambodia and will hurt the country's already beleaguered tourism sector, officials and tourism industry leaders said Thursday. Director of Civil Aviation Chea Aun said up to seven Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia flights from Phnom Penh to Bangkok were cancelled Wednesday, leaving more than 1,000 business people and tourists stranded in the capital.

"There were also five Thai Airways flights cancelled from Siem Reap to Bangkok, which grounded a few hundred passengers there," he said.

Chea Aun said the aviation authority did not know when flights would resume and could not comment on the likelihood of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport reopening.

President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agencies Ho Vadny said thousands of foreign tourists had been left without accommodation in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

"Many tourists who were supposed to check out of hotels on Wednesday could not stay because the hotels had no more rooms available," he said.

"This is big problem, but the travel agencies are working together to find accommodation for these people."

Ho Vadny said ongoing political tensions in Bangkok had made a "serious impact" on Cambodia's previously buoyant tourism sector.

Tourist arrivals in Cambodia have slumped in recent months amid fears over an ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and the volatile political situation in Thailand, which is regarded as a tourism gateway to its South-East Asian neighbours.

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