Thai artists see red over Bangkok governor’s plan to take over art centre

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30345267

  • “Artists will soon walk from the BACC to meet Governor Asawin. If you make the wrong decision, you can change it,” posted outspoken artist and activist Vasan Sitthiket.
  • Kallaya Kassakul, the artists network’ coordinator, on Saturday posted on http://www.Change.org calling on supporters to #freebacc.
  • “BACC don’t need Asawin,” performing artist Mongkol Plienbangchang posted on his Facebook.

Thai artists see red over Bangkok governor’s plan to take over art centre

Breaking News May 13, 2018 13:14

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik
The Nation

Bangkok Governor Asawin Kwanmuang’s new plan for the city administration to run the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) drew strong reactions on social media yesterday.

Many Thai artists posted their reactions on their Facebook pages after Asawin announced on Thursday his plan for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to take over the operations of the BACC from the non-profit Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Foundation. The BMA claimed that the foundation running the centre was Bt80 million in the red annually.

After funding annually for 10 years since its doors opened, the BMA this year cut its funding for the centre. The governor will assign the Culture, Sport and Tourism Department of the BMA to run the city-funded art centre and turn it into a learning centre.

“As the BMA annually provides Bt40 million in funding to the foundation, it is better that BMA officials operate the city centre,” the governor said, while announcing his plan.

“We will lease the ground floor area in order to earn more money so as to cut the losses. We will convert the exhibition floors into a new learning centre. We will hold a meeting on May 15 to find a final solution to this issue,” the governor added.

As the capital’s landmark and tourism attraction area, the BACC is the only art and culture centre located at the heart of Bangkok on the corner of Rama I Road. The art centre is surrounded by major malls, including Siam Discovery and Mah Boonkrong.

As running an art centre requires expertise, artists and culture experts questioned the management skills of bureaucrats.

“If the BMA will run the BACC, let’s change its name to ‘Ass Hold’ centre,” National artist Suchart Sawassri, posted on his Facebook page.

“BACC don’t need Asawin,” performing artist Mongkol Plienbangchang posted on his Facebook.

“Artists will soon walk from the BACC to meet Governor Asawin. If you make the wrong decision, you can change it,” posted outspoken artist and activist Vasan Sitthiket.

These artists were part of a pioneering art movement who pushed previous Bangkok governors into building the Bt509-million art centre more than a decade ago. The project began in 1994 and after going through three governors finally opened its doors in 2008.

To avoid bureaucratic corruption, the non-profit Art and Culture Centre Foundation was later established to run the centre.

Kallaya Kassakul, the artists network’ coordinator, on Saturday posted on http://www.Change.org calling on supporters to #freebacc. As of Sunday noon, more than 3,200 supporters agreed to fight to free the art centre from the BMA and allow the Art and Culture Centre Foundation to continue running the centre.

Sidoarjo bomb also involved family of six: E. Java Police

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345327

Sidoarjo bomb also involved family of six: E. Java Police

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 10:21

By The Jakarta Post
Asia News Network
Jakarta

According to the East Java Police, a premature explosion that took place at the Wonocolo low-cost apartment in Taman Sidoarjo on Sunday evening had involved a family – similar to the family of six that launched a series of deadly attacks on three churches across Surabaya earlier that same day.

The suicide bombings on Sunday morning killed 14 people and injured 41 others.

“They are the perpetrators, not victims,” East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Mahfud Arifin said on Monday as quoted by surya.co.id.

According to Mahfud, the family staying at the low-cost apartment had been planning an attack on an undisclosed target in Surabaya.

Police have identified the suspects as Anton Febrianto, 47, his wife Puspitasari, 47, and their four children, HR, 17, AB, 15, FS, 11, and GA, 10.

East Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Frans Barung Mangera said Anton was alive but had sustained severe injuries after the bomb prematurely went off, killing Puspitasari and their eldest son.

FS and GA also suffered severe injuries in the explosion; only AB was left unscathed.

“He [Anton] was holding a bomb trigger when officers arrived at the scene. Anton died after police officers decided to gun him down,” Frans said.

Frans said AB was the one who later took his younger siblings to the hospital.

“Currently, the two are being treated at the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Surabaya,” Frans said, adding the bodies of Anton, Puspitasari and HR had been taken to the same hospital for an autopsy.

“We also seized several pieces of evidence, including packages presumed to be explosives,” he said.

According to the low-cost apartment’s administrative manager, Lidya Susanti, the family had been staying in Wonocolo since 2015. The parents had made a living by selling cakes.

The East Java Police said they were collecting evidence to find a link between Anton’s family and that of Dita Supriyanto, who were behind the suicide bombings at Saint Mary Immaculate Catholic Church (STMB), Surabaya Pantecostal Church (GPPS) and the Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church (GKI).

Clinton warns Australia on Chinese ‘influence peddling’

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345322

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Clinton warns Australia on Chinese ‘influence peddling’

Breaking News May 14, 2018 09:31

By Agence France-Presse
Sydney

Hillary Clinton warned Australia and other democracies Monday to be on guard against growing interference in their domestic politics by China and Russia.

The former US secretary of state, beaten by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election marred by allegations of meddling by Moscow, said it was a concern for all political parties.

“I think Australians need to be for Australians, Americans need to be for Americans,” she told broadcaster ABC while on a speaking tour of the country.

“And whether it’s Russia in a secret way interfering with our election and producing more than 3,500 ads to try to confuse our electorate, to try to damage me, or the Chinese looking to try to influence policy, we should say no.

Clinton added: “I don’t care what side of the political aisle you might be on, in either Australia or the United States.

“We have an interest in making sure that decisions that are made by our governments are not the result of some kind of influence peddling by a foreign power.”

Australia has seen tensions with China rise recently over allegations of Beijing interference in domestic politics and using donations to gain access.

The claims infuriated China, which has attacked local media stories about infiltration as hysteria and paranoia.

Canberra and other regional capitals have also become increasingly alarmed at China’s push into the Pacific, which could upset the strategic balance in the region.

Clinton said despite deepening trade relations with China, democracies could not ignore foreign interference.

“Australia has a lot of interests with China, certainly your economy is intertwined with China,” she said.

“But I do think that Australia, along with other liberal democracies around the world, have got to take the threat of foreign interference seriously.”

Australia is undergoing wide-ranging reforms to espionage and foreign interference legislation, having singled out China as a focus of concern.

The decision followed an inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last year after reports that Australia’s spy agency had warned politicians about taking donations from two billionaires with links to China.

An Australian senator quit parliament in December over his relationship with a wealthy political donor associated with the Chinese Communist Party.

Malaysian PM makes sweeping changes

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345319

Malaysian PM makes sweeping changes

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 08:26

By The Star
Asia News Network
PETALING JAYA

A day before officially starting work as the new Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has announced sweeping measures to clean up corruption in the country and restore the people’s trust in government.

In a special announcement aired live on television, the Prime Minister also unveiled steps to boost investor and business confidence in Malaysia.

“The rakyat should not feel uneasy or suspicious about the Government’s intentions. The aim is to clean up our country and reduce the economic problems our country is facing,” said Dr Mahathir.

The Prime Minister gave an assurance that the Government was not out for political revenge.

Unveiling what he called was an anti-corruption movement, Dr Mahathir said all political donations to Pakatan Harapan parties or politicians must now require Cabinet approval.

He said people had donated money to Pakatan to fund their campaign in the general election but such funds were no longer needed.

He said those who still want to give gifts to members of the Government can only give items like food or flowers.

“We want to make sure early on that there will be no corruption in government,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the Government will also go after anyone who gives or receives bribes or does anything that can be classified as corruption.

He promised that action against all responsible including politicians or those in government.

Dr Mahathir said the Government will ensure that all its actions follow the law and regulations.

“We have to run this country through rule of law. We will impose our laws on everyone, regardless of whether they hold high positions. All will be subject to the law,” he said.

On the economy, Dr Mahathir said the Government wants to cut red tape as it does not want too many laws or regulations that can restrict the freedom to do business in the country.

“We want all parties to be able to do business more freely and easily,” he said.

He said that while Malaysia welcomed local and foreign direct investments (FDI), the FDI would be limited to bringing in capital and technology into the country and setting up of factories to produce goods for the local and export markets.

Dr Mahathir said foreign participation in big infrastructure projects will only be allowed if there is no expertise in Malaysia to carry out the project.

This is because local companies are capable of carrying out many types of infrastructure projects.

“We will ensure that all these (opportunities) are open to local companies,” he said.

He said such projects will all go through an open tender system.

Certain government officials will be tasked with probing awarded contracts if anything suspicious is found.

The Prime Minister said the Government will also investigate whether any companies were forced to give free shares to certain parties.

The Government will also investigate whether certain businesses were harassed by the Inland Revenue Board into paying more taxes than what was due.

“We need to know whether they were approached by the IRB and forced to pay more, with those failing to do so being blacklisted from going overseas, having their businesses raided or accounts frozen,” he said.

US ready to offer North Korea security assurances, investment: Pompeo

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US ready to offer North Korea security assurances, investment: Pompeo

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 06:49

By Agence France-Presse
Washington

The United States is prepared to offer North Korea security assurances and bountiful private investment if it makes the strategic choice to give up its nuclear weapons, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged Sunday.

The US price for normalization — complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization — is one Pyongyang has never before been willing to pay, seeing nuclear weapons as the ultimate guarantee of the regime’s survival.

But both countries have been on charm offensives ahead of the summit June 12 in Singapore between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, the first ever between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader.

On Saturday, North Korea said it will destroy its nuclear test site later this month — a gesture Trump quickly hailed as “very smart and gracious.”

Pompeo, who has met twice with Kim, described him as well-informed and attuned to western media coverage, a leader “who knows his brief” and what he wants to achieve.

The secretary said he was “convinced” Kim shared US goals.

“We will have to provide security assurances, to be sure,” Pompeo said on Fox News Sunday. “This has been the trade-off that has been pending for 25 years. No president has ever put America in a position where the North Korean leadership thought that this was truly possible.”

“Our eyes are wide open with respect to the risks, but it is our fervent hope that Chairman Kim wants to make a strategic change,” he said.

If Kim makes such a change, he said, “President Trump is prepared to assure that there’s going to be a successful transition.”

Energy, infrastructure, meat

Pompeo dangled the prospect of a gusher of US investment in North Korea, with upgrades in energy, infrastructure, technology and agriculture, if a deal is struck.

“This will be Americans coming in…to help build out the energy grid — they need enormous amounts of electricity in North Korea; to work with them to develop infrastructure, all the things that the North Korean people need, the capacity for American agriculture to support North Korea so they can eat meat and have healthy lives,” he said.

“Those are the kind of things that, if we get what it is the President has demanded – the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of North Korea – that the American people will offer in spades.”

In a separate television interview, US National Security Advisor John Bolton cautioned, however, that denuclearization has to be accomplished “before the benefits start to flow.”

He said that means the elimination of North Korea uranium enrichment facilities and the dismantling of its nuclear weapons arsenal.

“North Korea has a very extensive program. It won’t be easy to do,” Bolton said on ABC’s “This Week.” “They’ll have to reveal all locations. Open inspections. The deconstruction of the nuclear weapons, I think, will be by the United States with perhaps assistance from others.”

He suggested that could be done at the US nuclear weapons facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Bolton said the US side also will discuss not just North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs but its chemical and biological weapons arsenal as well.

“I don’t think the president has stars in his eyes,” Bolton said. “What we need to see from Kim Jong Un is that he and the entire North Korean regime have made a strategic decision that they’ll be better off without weapons of mass destruction.”

The summit will give Trump an early chance “to size Kim Jong Un up and see if the commitment is real,” he said.

WHO reports new Ebola case in DR Congo, vaccine this week

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345313

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WHO reports new Ebola case in DR Congo, vaccine this week

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 06:44

By Agence France-Presse
Kinshasa

The head of the World Health Organization said Sunday there has been another reported case of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that an experimental vaccine to fight the disease is expected to become available in the country this week.

Doctor Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on a two-visit to DR Congo, said the suspected new case was in Bikoro, at the centre of the latest Ebola outbreak in the country’s northwest, where so far 18 people have died.

It brings to 35 the number of reported cases, including two confirmed, according to the WHO tally.

The WHO is planning to begin a vaccination campaign in the area, near the border with the Republic of Congo, using an available stockpile of an experimental vaccine.

“The vaccines are going to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. We have enough of them,” said Tedros, without specifying the number of doses.

After meeting with DR Congo President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa, the WHO chief praised “the government’s very strong leadership” in responding to the health crisis and its “good coordination” with partners such as Unicef and Doctors without Borders (MSF).

On Friday the UN health agency had announced that it was preparing for all scenarios, including the “worst case scenario”, in the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.

Tedros said he hoped for a “better result” in this ninth Ebola outbreak in the vast central African country since 1976, when the deadly viral disease was first identified by a Belgian-led team.

Ebola is one of the world’s most notorious diseases, being both highly infectious and extremely lethal.

The worst-ever Ebola outbreak started in December 2013 in southern Guinea before spreading to two neighbouring west African countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone, killing more than 11,300 people out of nearly 29,000 registered cases.

ABB ready to power Indonesia’s electricity demand

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345287

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ABB ready to power Indonesia’s electricity demand

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 01:00

By THE JAKARTA POST
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
JAKARTA

POWER DEMAND in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is expected to grow from year to year.

Apart from increasing economic activity in both urban and rural areas, the government’s plan to tackle the unequal distribution of electricity across the country is set to drive demand for electricity.

The government aims to have all households connected to the nation’s electricity grids by 2025 and is executing an ambitious programme to add 35,000 megawatts in power generation capacity.

The lack of electricity infrastructure, such as grid and gas insulated switchgear (GIS), however, remains a big challenge facing the government in meeting the growing power need. This explains why developing the electricity infrastructure is part of the government’s priority programmes.

In developing electricity infrastructure, the government cannot work alone, as it does not have the necessary capacity, resources, experience and expertise. Therefore, finding the right partner is seen by experts as the best way for the government to proceed.

ABB, a Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation, pioneered GIS technology 50 years ago and continues to drive innovation in this space.

The company recently won an order to supply GIS to state-owned electricity company PLN.

The GIS technology will facilitate a reliable supply of electricity and can be safely operated in confined spaces and harsh environments, controlling the network and protecting it from power outages.

As part of the order, ABB will design, supply and commission 150-kilovolt (kV) GIS for 10 substations in the greater Jakarta area, Western Java, East Java and Sulawesi.

GIS technology provides a reliable solution with a compact footprint that requires up to 90 per cent less space compared to conventional air-insulated switchgear.

This enables substations to be built within urban areas where land is scarce and costly, while preserving the aesthetics of the cityscape.

“We are pleased to continue supporting the Indonesian government and PLN in their efforts to strengthen the grid and deliver reliable power to meet the country’s growing electricity needs,” said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Grids division.

“We are committed to leveraging our best-in-class technologies and strong local presence to continue to grow with the country, as part of ABB’s Next Level strategy,” he added.

As a market and technology leader in high-voltage GIS technology, ABB offers ratings and applications from 72.5 kV to 1200 kV and has a global installed base of more than 30,000 bays.

ABB’s latest offering includes eco-efficient and digital capabilities.

ABB is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry, and transport and infrastructure globally.

Indonesians take batik to the world

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345286

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Indonesians take batik to the world

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 01:00

By THE JAKARTA POST
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
JAKARTA

THREE INDONESIAN designers will present their batik creations next month to open the “Batik for the World” exhibition at the Unesco House in Paris.

Putting the spotlight of global fashion on batik, Oscar Lawalata, Denny Wirawan and Edward Hutabarat will present their creations at the June 6 opening, along with a historical exhibition of the unique Indonesian artform.

The show will run until June 12 and will feature a total of 24 batik designs from the designers.

Oscar Lawalata will showcase a collection of ready-to-wear cocktail dresses in warm tones, using methods such as embroidery and beading to spruce up the summer vibes.

“For me, when designing with batik, it must be at the forefront, as opposed to just the fabric for clothes,” Oscar said, adding that his collection would use batik from five areas of East Java: Madura, Surabaya, Ponorogo, Trenggalek and Tuban.

Meanwhile, Denny Wirawan will utilise the batik from Kudus in Central Java for his “Wedari” collection of evening wear, which was previously presented last September.

“Since many of the pieces are already sold out, I decided to create a new collection with a similar theme. This was done because of time constraints, as the batik-making process takes a lot of time,” Denny said, adding that the process was still ongoing.

Last but not least, senior designer Edward Hutabarat plans to unveil a collection of wedding gowns using batik from Pekalongan and Cirebon with an ocean-inspired ambiance.

Heritage exhibition

“My collection is fun. It is as if the bride is saying ‘I do’ with the ocean in front of her,” Edward said, noting that the batik wedding gowns would be accessorised with French summer flowers.

Along with the designers’ collections, the event will dedicate a section to exhibit batik from various locations as a heritage exhibition.

A total of 100 batik from various locations across Indonesia will be showcased, having been curated by Yayasan Batik Indonesia (YBI), Rumah Pesona Kain and Oscar Lawalata Culture.

A number of batik artisans will also be present to show the process of creating batik.

According to Oscar, the artisans will be brought in so that attendees from around the world can appreciate the painstakingly thorough process.

“Many people might see batik as a beautiful fabric just for its pattern, but batik is judged by its process. The exhibition will feature every part of the process, from the equipment to the techniques,” Oscar said.

Oscar, who is also the exhibition’s initiator, believes that batik is a luxury product and that the batik artisans are the stars of the show.

“We may not have the latest technology, but we have skilled hands that have continued to create to this day,” Oscar said.

“Batik has continued to evolve in Indonesia, from the contemporary to the traditional. Indonesians are proud to wear batik, but I think the world must know what happens in Indonesia.”

In tune with Oscar, Edward said batik was the beautiful remnant of a civilisation long gone and should be preserved and appreciated.

“I want to say to the public in France that Indonesia is the masterpiece of God. If you don’t believe me, visit Indonesia yourself,” Edward said.

Quality a factor as VN tea exports slide

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345285

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Quality a factor as VN tea exports slide

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 01:00

By VIET NAM NEWS
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
HANOI

VIETNAM’S tea exports dropped in both volume and value in the first four months of 2018, despite a price hike.

Low quality and lack of internationally known brands remain the main barriers for Vietnamese tea in gaining a strong foothold in foreign markets.

Vietnam exported 34,000 tonnes of tea worth US$54 million (Bt1.7 billion) between January-April, a decrease of 10.2 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively, from the same period in 2017. The price of exported tea in the first quarter averaged $1,546 per tonne, up by 7.5 per cent year on year. The main buyers of Vietnamese tea during the reviewed period included Russia, Pakistan, Taiwan (China), Indonesia, the United States, China and Malaysia.

Pakistan continued to be Vietnam’s largest tea importer in terms of turnover. The country purchased 4,060 tonnes, or 16 per cent, of Vietnam’s total tea exports for a price of $8.45 million, down by 28.9 per cent in volume and 19.2 per cent in value. The decline is the result of a stricter regulation in Pakistan, which now requires an aflatoxin certificate for tea imports.

A similar situation unfolded with tea shipments to China and Taiwan, which have also applied stricter regulations.

Pakistan was followed by Russia, which imported over 4,170 tonnes of tea for $6.49 million, down by 8.4 per cent in volume, but up by 6.5 per cent in value, thanks to a 16.2 per cent increase in tea prices, bringing the average value to $1,556 per tonne.

According to experts, lower demand might have played a part in the fall of tea exports, but the main problems were that domestic exporters paid little attention to improving the quality of the tea, along with an absence of Vietnamese tea brands known internationally.

Cambodia to grow only slighly more than in 2017

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30345284

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Cambodia to grow only slighly more than in 2017

ASEAN+ May 14, 2018 01:00

By THE PHNOM PENH POST
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
PHNOM PENH

THE CAMBODIAN economic growth is projected to accelerate slightly to 6.9 per cent in 2018, compared with 6.8 per cent in 2017, buoyed by a rebound in textile and apparel exports as well as tourism and agriculture, according to a new World Bank report.

However, risks remain from potential election-related uncertainty and periodic jolts of protectionism now escalating trade disputes between the world’s largest trading nations.

The latest Cambodia Economic Update (CEU), launched on Thursday, said rising government spending and favourable global conditions, including robust demand in advanced economies, are expected to underpin Cambodia’s high growth trajectory.

“Investing in people is the best for a more prosperous future,” said Inguna Dobraja, the World Bank’s country manager for Cambodia.

“To maintain strong growth, it is essential that Cambodia invests more in education and skills training while addressing the constraints facing small and medium businesses”, he said. Risks remain, however, and they include erosion of export competitiveness due to rapidly rising real wages, a build-up of vulnerabilities from a prolonged real estate and construction boom, potential election-related uncertainty, and periodic jolts of protectionism and escalating trade disputes between the world’s largest trading countries, according to the report.

The report noted Cambodia can diversify growth and create more jobs by reducing the costs of company formalisation, operation and financing.

Tourism boost

Tourist arrivals accelerated to 11.8 per cent in 2017, compared with 5 per cent in 2016, thanks to the authorities’ efforts to establish more regional flights, including to China, an important market for tourism.

Sinan Thourn, president of Cambodian Tourism Federation and the chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), said the number of arriving tourists in the last four months of this year did not increase.

However, the quantity of Chinese tourists grew.

“If we look at the market share it is not like 2016 and 2017 [when tourism grew overall],” Thourn said. While he was optimistic over the upcoming elections, Sinan also expressed some concerns.

“I don’t have any pessimism the election will deter tourists,” he claimed, adding that, “we know the politicians in our country always fight each other, but it never effects the tourism sector; it is just normal”.

However, he expressed concerns if the EU or US were to take any action.

“What I am worried about is that the EU and US will look at Cambodia in a different way, or, if they put a travel ban on the Kingdom it will impact tourist arrivals,” he said. “However it is just a small factor as Chinese tourists now lead.”

While the report said the growth in the construction sector is an important driver of growth and a creator of jobs, it also recommends that Cambodia closely monitor the construction and real estate boom by developing macro-prudential policies to help reduce the scope for speculative activities.

The agriculture sector also rebounded, with the expansion of rice and rubber plantations and the gradual recovery of agricultural commodity prices, according to the report.