The 5th Mekong Tourism Forum took place this year in the Kingdom of Cambodia, hosted by that nation's Ministry of Tourism.

Last year Cambodia was visited by 600,000 tourists - and half of them arrived from or via Thailand. No wonder, then, that the two nations have rapidly evolved an imaginative co-promotion to interest the world in both destinations at the same time.

In what seems a stunningly fast demonstration of co-operation, all sorts of links have been agreed which will benefit both parties.

Bangkok Airways has already seen the wisdom of serving Siem Reap (where you check in to the tourist mecca of Angkor Wat) from Chiangmai's well connected international airport; the experienced Tourism Authority of Thailand is developing a master plan for our newly opened neighbour; the New Year will see joint international promotion; Thai companies are queueing up to quote for the new road building so desperately needed across the border and this first example of "seamless travel" in the region seems set for success.

With visas-on-arrival expected soon, this looks like a truly 'open-skies/ground-breaking' alliance, with Chiangmai now firmly established as a gateway to the formerly tragic, desperately poor but uniquely attractive Cambodia. No wonder there is serious talk of lengthening our runway to take 'Superjumbos' - and no wonder the Cambodian Tourism Minister is expecting 10 million tourists a year to ultimately arrive there from here! Exciting stuff and Very good news for my Chiangmai..... What a shame then that human rights concerns and lack of visas-on-arrival continue to inhibit tourism west of here, ie into Burma. I sadly predict that our links to Laos, Kunming and Shanghai will blossom into booming business long before "seamless travel" westward-ho becomes a reality.

Murder most foul

I don't know what the statistics say, I just guess that our region has no more murders or serious crime than other parts of the nation. It's just a terrible coincidence that 2 Europeans have been killed within a few weeks and within 200 metres of each other in the city. First the resident German biker, shot by an irate Thai, then the rape-murder of a young British tourist in a low budget guesthouse.

The German media has virtually ignored the former, but sensationalist hype is all over the UK press. This is not simply due to the differing nature of the crimes. We must remember that 3 young British girls have perished in tragic circumstances in Thailand in the past 2 years, that we are still awaiting an arrest over the killing of a Freeman of the City of London prior to that - and that these things are cumulative.

"Safety is the most efficient tool Thailand is using now" said a top TAT marketing man as recently as June. Would someone tell the police, please? .

Two Kingdoms - One Promotion! The 5th Mekong Tourism Forum took place this year in the Kingdom of Cambodia, hosted by that nation's Ministry of Tourism.

Reinhard Hohler

The Other Thailand, part 11. Life out there in the jungle, far from the bars.

David Francis

Chiangmai and the North

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Letters

Heart to Heart

Motala can walk again!

The incredible elephant given only 6 to 8 months to live back in April is now up and walking at Lampang Elephant Hospital. (...).

MISS THIPAPORN. I am 28 years old and single. I am only 155 cms tall and weigh 45kgs. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol. (...).

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