8.3.2019 TTG Show Daily ITB Berlin 16
Destination Cambodia
Tourism scene shapes up
With more diverse offerings, Cambodia is gaining ground as a high-end, mono-destination. By Marissa Carruthers
European visitors are increasingly opting for Koh Rong (pictured) over a crowded Sihanoukville
T
he swelling range of tour-
ism products in Cambodia
could spark a bounce-back in
German-speaking arrivals, but
challenges in the country’s supply of tour
guides are threatening to hamper growth
potentials.
According to the latest figures from
Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, German
visitors took a 18.8 per cent year-on-year
(YOY) tumble to 86,975 arrivals, as of Oc-
tober 2018. Germany stood as Cambodia’s
third strongest European source market.
During the same time, overall arrivals
from Europe declined 5.9 per cent YOY. In
contrast, Chinese visitors boomed and re-
mained Cambodia’s top source market, as
overall arrivals increased by 11.1 per cent
to over 5.4 million in the first 11 months
of 2018.
Despite the fall in figures in 2018 – a
year that saw Cambodia hold elections in
July – industry players are hopeful about
the performance of European markets
this year, with new products in the desti-
nation potentially stimulating growth.
Miles Gravett, general manager of
Khiri Cambodia, said: “We are generally
very optimistic about the German market,
(which is one) with a large wealthy popu-
lation of travel lovers.”
Notably, Cambodia’s growing luxury
scene is expected to capture high-end
European arrivals, predicts Steve Lidgey,
general manager at Travel Asia a la Carte.
He believes more of this segment will
start opting for Cambodia over Thailand
and Vietnam, while increasing their length
of stay.
New openings – promising to entice
high-end European travellers to stay long-
er in Cambodia and consider the country
as a mono-destination – include Shinta
Mani Wild – The Bensley Collection in
the Koh Kong jungle, as well as Six Senses
Krabey and Alila Koh Russey private is-
lands off Sihanoukville, said Adrien Pons,
director of sales and marketing at Rose-
wood Phnom Penh.
Meanwhile, such new products could
also help Cambodia’s emerging destina-
tions absorb the shift in European traffic
away from Sihanoukville.
Andrew Brouwer, product and com-
munications manager at Hanuman Trav-
el, shared that the mass Chinese develop-
ment in Sihanoukville has led to a “crash”
in European visitors to the coastal town in
the last two years.
However, many have shifted to sur-
rounding islands like Koh Rong, which
has seen an expansion in the mid- to top-
range accommodation options.
He added that upgrading and expan-
sion work at Sihanoukville and Siem Reap
international airports, and increase in
flight connections between the two, also
makes Cambodia more appealing to the
European market as a single destination.
In spite of these developments, the
country’s shortage of German-speaking
tour guides is posing as an impediment to
growth. Brouwer said German-speaking
guides are already at a premium in Siem
Reap.
He explained: “They are usually booked
up months in advance. There’s not enough
so they can pick and choose their book-
ings and go where they know the tips are
bigger.”
To unlock growth potentials in Ger-
Market trends for 2019
Steve Lidgey
General manager, Travel Asia a la Carte
German clients like immersive tours and
are not afraid to get off the beaten track.
It’s very important to offer experiential
travel (for this market), which can mean
simple stops at the roadside to see local
life where our tour guides can interact
and translate, up to exclusive private
destination dinners.
Miles Garrett
General manager, Khiri Cambodia
I find most German-speaking clients
to be more adventurous and willing to
go with the flow (compared to) many
other European travellers. I think the
opening up of the islands for mainstream
travellers who want more comfortable
accommodation, ecotourism in natural
destinations, and the sustainability focus,
are helpful in developing the German-
speaking market.
man-speaking markets, Khiri has taken
proactive steps such as employing better
German-speaking guides, increasing sales
outreach in Germany and gaining more
understanding of the market.
An optimistic Gravett remarked: “In-
ternal changes are driving positive chang-
es in the German-speaking market.”
What’s new
Memoir Palace Resort & Spa
Bringing a new concept in accommoda-
tion to Siem Reap, this luxury resort blends
Khmer and French architecture and design,
with colonial villas surrounding a gargantuan
lagoon pool.
The property offers 88 suites, including
eight royal suites with a separate living area
and private plunge pool, butler service, a
range of meeting rooms and ballroom, three
F&B outlets, an in-house spa with a sauna
and steam room, as well as a kids’ club.
Six Senses Krabey Island
Located on the island of Krabey, off the coast
of Sihanoukville, the resort comprises 40
villas, each with a private plunge pool, set
around the naturally landscaped 12ha island.
Besides the exclusive Retreat and Reserve
villas with its own mini wine cellars, Six
Senses Krabey Island also boasts an elevated
sunset bar that offers pristine views at dusk,
two restaurants, an ice cream parlour, outdoor
fitness circuit, open air cinema and sky obser-
vatory. Water activities, island hopping tours
and boat trips are also available.
swimming pool with a bar, and a massage
house. Nestled in the heart of the Cambodian
countryside, activities include bike rides and
visits to nearby temples, waterfalls and islands.
food, while the Boulders Spa offers a range of
treatments. The Heritage Walk
Siem Reap welcomed its largest mall and
lifestyle complex this year in the form of The
Heritage Walk. Set on a one-hectare site, the
multistorey mall and entertainment centre
provides 40,000m² of covered and open-air
retail space for about 100 units, including res-
taurants, coffee shops and a cinema. A string
of international and local brands are housed in
the mall, which aims to entice visitors to extend
their stay beyond the usual few days.
Hanchey Bamboo Resort
Aiming to plant the sleepy town of Kampong
Cham on the tourist map, Hanshey Bamboo
Resort is an eco-resort with its facade hand-
crafted mainly from bamboo.
The resort, which sits atop Hanchey Hill
about 20km from Kampong Cham town,
boasts 10 bungalows, four dorms for six
people, a meditation centre, restaurant, large Alila Villas Koh Russey
The brand’s first resort in Cambodia occu-
pies its own private island in the Koh Rong
archipelago with 50 pavilions and 13 villas.
There are two restaurants on-site, Horizon and
Beach Shack, as well as other facilities like the
beachfront Spa Alila, infinity pool, fitness centre
with private yoga room – where complimentary
yoga and taichi classes are held daily.
From left: Alila Villas Koh Russey; Shinta Mani Wild – The Bensley Collection
Shinta Mani Wild –
The Bensley Collection
This resort adds a slice of the high life to the
Cardamom Mountains. Elevating the glamping
concept, the private nature sanctuary nestled
in the heart of the jungle houses 15 safari-
style tents dotted along a 1.5km river stretch.
Activities include jungle treks, wildlife spot-
ting and accompanying rangers who protect
the forest from poachers and illegal loggers
on their grounds. The Landing Zone Bar and
Waterfall Restaurant serve locally-inspired