7.3.2019 TTG Show Daily ITB Berlin 21
News
Turning single and proud
A broadening range of products, including those that feed appetites for barefoot
luxury, are helping longhaul travellers connect the dots for a Cambodia-only roundtrip
By Marissa Carruthers
Cambodia is shaking off its image as an
add-on destination and is showing signs
of becoming a standalone spot with Euro-
pean holidaymakers, claim the country’s
tourism players.
Traditionally regarded as part of a
multi-destination trip with neighbour-
ing Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia’s
mounting collection of tourism products,
improved infrastructure and promotion
of emerging destinations are raising its
appeal among European travellers.
This is coupled with Europe’s growing
appetite for intrepid, off-the-beaten-track
holidays. Tour operators say Cambodia
now has a wealth of options to compile
innovative itineraries that tick all the
boxes.
Steve Lidgey, manager at Travel Asia a
la Carte, said: “We can see Europeans are
seeking immersive, authentic destinations
for extended visits and Cambodia is ideal
for these sorts of tours. Once guests leave
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, it is hard to
meet large numbers of tourists, ensuring
interaction with local people and surpris-
es along the way.”
The recent opening of private islands
off the Sihanoukville coast and ongoing
development on the
islands of Koh Rong
and Koh Rong Sam-
loem should also ful-
fil Europeans’ rising
desire for nature, sus-
tainable tourism and
barefoot luxury.
Charles-Henri
Chevet, area general
manager at Sofitel
Phokeethra
Hotels,
commented:
“New
Six Senses Krabey Island just opened as a private island resort
luxury offerings on the
islands will generate
strong interest from the European region, connections with major transit hubs,
playing an important role in stimulating such as Bangkok and Singapore, have also
growth and extending stays.”
helped.
He noted a recent rise in European
Lidgey added that the promotion of
travel operators and journalists visiting more emerging destinations, such as
Cambodia on fam trips to sample the Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Kampot and Kep,
swathe of new properties opening across and development of itineraries that touch
the kingdom – another factor he believes these spots should spur interest in Cam-
will stimulate the country’s appeal to Eu- bodia-only trips.
rope as a single destination.
He said: “Most potential guests prob-
Increased connectivity is also prompt- ably have only heard of Siem Reap and
ing the shift. Miles Gravett, general man- Phnom Penh. The more they see other
ager at Khiri Cambodia, said Emirates and destinations featured, (the more) they can
Qatar Airways flights are helpful in devel- join the dots and do a round trip of Cam-
oping the European market. Increased bodia as a single destination.”
Visit Nepal 2020 launch
honours tourism leader
The launch of Visit Ne-
pal 2020 at ITB Berlin
will be dedicated to the
late Nepal minister for
culture, tourism, and
civil aviation, Rabindra
Adhikari, who passed
away last week in an
Rabindra Adhikari
unfortunate helicopter
(1969-2019)
accident.
Travel trade members expressed regret
over the death of Adhikari, who had un-
dertaken a series of policies to reform Ne-
pal’s civil aviation sector since assuming
the position in February 2018.
Founder of Himalayan Windows, Anu-
pam Dahal, paid tribute to the late min-
ister’s efforts in removing bottlenecks at
Kathmandu airport. “He was initiating
changes like never before and made good
impact to improve our air connectivity.”
Shreehari Thapaliya, CEO, Trekking
Team Group Nepal, described Adhikari as
“one of the best and most dynamic leaders”.
Mario Hardy, CEO of PATA, added:
“During his short term as minister he
has help moved the tourism sector of his
country forward, and we were all looking
forward to see all of achievements. He will
be greatly missed.”
The Nepal Tourism Board has planned a
Visit Nepal 2020 launch event at a VIP din-
ner on March 7. – Paige Lee Pei Qi and
Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Sepang International
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