Minister of Tourism THONG Khon of Cambodia
Thong Khon is a Cambodian politician.
Thong Khon says the event will be a memorable one.
Phnom Penh - Cambodian authorities will canvas beggars in popular tourism spots to determine why they beg and what it will take to stop them, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Monday.
One of the world's poorest countries with thousands of beggars, Cambodia is trying to turn tourism dollars into a means of fighting poverty and enhancing the tourism industry at the same time, Thong Khon said by telephone.
Thong Khon said the agreement was made as a result of the shared characteristics and similarities between the two countries.
Thong Khon expressed his hope that the two nations would experience an increase in the number of tourist visits through the agreement.
This has been a good year because there were no obstacles such as SARS or birdflu," Khon said of 2006, adding that he expects the number of visitors in 2007 to increase by a further 20 percent.
Thong Khon said Japanese tourists grew 439% in 2002 over the previous year, rising 90,000 from 18,000 in 2001.
Thong Khon said by early next year, Japanese airlines will also operate direct flights to Phnom Penh.
Most areas have been declared free of land mines, Thong Khon said in an interview in his air-conditioned office in the capital, Phnom Penh.
Back in Cambodia, Thong Khon said Thai airport closures had hurt his country to the tune of US$1 million a day but the losses were partially offset by tourists in Thailand fleeing overland to Siem Reap, home of the famed Angkor Wat temples, and Phnom Penh.
Thong Khon said that China is a growing tourism market and that officials plan to double the number of Chinese visitors by the end of 2009.
Thong Khon said dolphin conservation and tourism development are closely linked to improved living conditions for people.
Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple received a welcome publicity boost from a contest to choose seven "new" world wonders, despite not winning a spot on the list, tourism minister Thong Khon said Tuesday.
Phnom Penh - Cambodia will seek to increase direct flights between China and European Union (EU) nations to boost its booming tourism industry, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Monday.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon has said that although tourist arrivals have risen 13 percent from the same period last year he expects a significant drop in Thai arrivals.
rising 90,000 from 18,000 in 2001.
UpdatedThursday, January 3, 2008 0:00amTWN,AFPCambodia tourist arrivals top two million in 2007PHNOM PENH -- Tourist arrivals to Cambodia topped two million in 2007, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Wednesday, adding that the country hopes to attract more visitors this year by expanding its attractions.