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AITEX 2007, Tourism Aids Cambodian Development
01-Oct-2007

The Angkor International Tourism Exchange 2007 (AITEX), the Kingdom’s largest tourism conference, was held at Siem Reap’s Angkor COEX Building 1^st – 3^rd October. At the event, officials said tourism will be vital in Cambodia’s battle against poverty.

Addressing a large crowd at the opening ceremony, Tourism Minister Dr. Thong Khon said that tourism is crucial to the Cambodian economy. In 2006, Cambodia saw 1.7 million international visitors, an increase of 20% compared with 2005, Khon noted. These visits generated $1.05 billion in revenue and created 250,000 jobs, he said. The increases were growing rapidly, Thong continued, saying that, in the first eight months of 2007, Cambodian welcomed 1.3 million international visitors, an increase of 19% over the same period in 2006.

“We will receive around two million international visitors by the end of 2007,” the minister predicted.

Thong Khon went on to say that the third AITEX was an invaluable opportunity for communication between local and overseas tourism businesses, proving the chance to exchange experience and knowledge.

“The objective of this exhibition is to show [people] around the world about our ancestors’ achievements which make up our cultural heritage,” he said. “Even in Phnom Penh and neighbouring countries, there is no event like this. The tourism industry here is one of our most significant sectors which will rapidly enhance national development and economic growth.”

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An also made an address at the opening ceremony, in which he claimed that events such as AITEX helped promote Cambodian tourism in the global marketplace, providing local businesses with higher profits and assisting the socioeconomic growth of Cambodia as a whole.

“Tourism generates jobs to increase the national income and reduce poverty,” he said. “On the other hand, it is a very competitive business, so the quality of Cambodian tourism services such as accommodation, transport, food, guides, souvenirs, and management must be up to international standards. We are currently accelerating [development] to compete in the international market.”

Ho Vandy, Chief of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents (CATA), claimed the 2007 AITEX was a milestone, as the Kingdom is just beginning to see large scale investment.

“It is a historical event for Cambodian people, especially for those in the tourism sector, because people can exchange professional experiences and find out about other the industry in other countries,” he claimed. “Big events like AITEX attract foreign businessmen to invest and bring more tourists to visit Cambodia. It is a vital chance for cooperation and promotion.”

Delegations from 28 countries including the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Belgium, Burma, China, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Ukraine, USA, and Vietnam were present at the event. Nearly 400 international businesses displayed their tourism products including hotel, restaurant, and travel agency brands. There were also 160 local businesses with stalls at the event, including some utilising the government’s ‘One Village One Product’ strategy. Stands cost $700 each.

The 2007 AITEX was the third to be held in Cambodia but only the second held in Siem Reap. The first AITEX was held in January 2003 in Phnom Penh and was small in comparison to this year’s event.

Building the Future

The Angkor COEX building which hosted AITEX 2007 is an important symbol of the growing economic clout of Cambodia, said Thong Khon, noting that, at 8000m2 and able to hold 20,000 people seated, the building is the largest of its type in Cambodia.
“We have pride in our huge, luxury COEX building,” he smiled.

The Angkor COEX building, built by Korean construction SMSC at a cost of $10 million, is divided into three large halls, each able to seat around 6,000, as well as six other rooms with a capacity of 2,000 – 4,000. The edifice is the first of its type to be built in cultural capital of Cambodia, allowing large scale event such as conferences, exhibitions, and weddings to be held a stone’s throw from Angkor Wat.

Chief of SMSC Mr. Lee Hoduck Co, said that the firm’s “investment in Cambodia is to reinforce tourism industry development and is part of cultural exchange.”

Lee said he was proud the Angkor COEX building, which he said brought honour to the nation, as well as providing a venue for international events such as AITEX.

Thong Khon agreed, calling the building “one of the most important and fundamental facilities in Siem Reap. With this building Cambodian tourism will be developed in line with a new policy called MICE – meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition. This will attract large numbers of NGOs and companies who want to hold international conferences here so that they can visit the very wonderful temples of Angkor.”

We hope to hold many other business events and international conferences here,” he added.

May Titthara
Photographs by Heng Chivoan
From: Cambodia: the life, Volume:1 Issue:6 (November 2007)

AITEX 2007, Tourism Aids Cambodian Development01-Oct-2007

The Angkor International Tourism Exchange 2007 (AITEX), the Kingdom’s largest tourism conference, was held at Siem Reap’s Angkor COEX Building 1st – 3rd October. At the event, officials said tourism will be vital in Cambodia’s battle against poverty.

AITEX 2007, Tourism Aids Cambodian Development
01-Oct-2007

The Angkor International Tourism Exchange 2007 (AITEX), the Kingdom’s largest tourism conference, was held at Siem Reap’s Angkor COEX Building 1^st – 3^rd October. At the event, officials said tourism will be vital in Cambodia’s battle against poverty.