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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asean/40021576

Cambodia welcomes 1.26 million visitors, most from Thailand

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022

Cambodia welcomed nearly 1.27 million international visitors in the first nine months of this year – up 861.21% year-on-year but down 73.58% over the same period in 2019. The Tourism Ministry said 59.08% of the visitors were from Thailand and Vietnam.

Of the January-September arrivals, 946,125 or 74.75% declared “holiday” as their purpose of visit, 64,359 or 21.40% marked “business”, while 48,737 or 3.85 indicated other reasons.

Thailand accounted for 462,705 or 36.56% of visitors (444,943 holidays; 16,814 business; 948 other) – up 617.83% year-on-year and 60.61% above the corresponding period in 2019. Vietnam, meanwhile, had 285,163 or 22.53% (208,333 holidays; 76,461 business; 369 other), up 3,628.11% on-year but down 55.25% versus the 2019 period.

Visitors from China accounted for 4.93% of the total or 62,425, followed by Indonesia (49,903; 3.94%), the US (49,802; 3.93%), Laos (38,783; 3.06%), South Korea (36,404; 2.88%), Malaysia (34,438; 2.72%), France (31,157; 2.46%) and the UK (22,471; 1.78%).

September alone accounted for 21.13% of the nine-month total for international visitors, at 267,500, up 4.98% over August (254,813), which was up 7.65% from July (236,697).

If the number of international visitors for each remaining month this year is equal to or greater than the September figure, then the entire year will have seen more than 2.07 million visitors or 3.41% more than the estimates provided by the ministry last month.

Angkor Tourist Guides Association president Khieu Thy told The Post on October 30 that the number of foreign tourists visiting Angkor Wat has risen significantly in recent months, noting that most were from bordering countries, especially Thailand.

Thy claimed that since Covid-19 restrictions were rolled back “almost a year ago”, the uptick in visitors from Thailand and other nearby countries has been “overwhelming”.

Even without as many travellers from more distant destinations as before, the Cambodian tourism sector has remained sustainable thanks to tourists from neighbouring countries, he said.

“We expect there will soon be many more holidaymakers from countries farther away,” he said.

According to the ministry, most of the January-September international visitors arrived by land at 788,580 or 62.30%, followed by air (468,889; 37.04%) and waterways (8,303; 0.66%).

Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) president Chhay Sivlin argued that more travel facilitation measures for residents of nearby countries need to be adopted.

She explained that, for the time being, each jurisdiction’s tourism sector will be mainly dependent on internal and regional travel, amid the current global uncertainty tied to geopolitical and economic shocks as well as lingering Covid-19 disruptions.

“Visitors from neighbouring countries are a good starting point for the post-Covid-19 tourism recovery. Although they don’t spend as much as guests from European and American countries, their presence is very important at this time,” she said.

One such travel facilitation measure considered by government officials is a pilot scheme that would allow Thai tourists with official residence in any of the seven provinces that border Cambodia to travel overland to Siem Reap, especially Angkor Archaeological Park, with only a border pass and not a passport.

The idea was raised at a September 19 plenary meeting of the inter-ministerial commission tasked with facilitating travel into Cambodia at all ports of entry, which was presided over by its chairman Tourism Minister Thong Khon.

Siem Reap does not border Thailand, which would require participants of the scheme to enter Cambodia through one of the seven provinces along the frontier.

Following the meeting, Tourism Ministry’s secretary of state Hor Sarun, who is also deputy chairman of the commission, said that Khon was looking to make a formal request to the government for the scheme. No updates on the request were immediately available.

Sarun claimed that Cambodia would greatly benefit if Thai holidaymakers can enter the country more freely. “Some Thais want to see Angkor Wat, but they lack a passport. Now, those living in border provinces can apply for a border pass and visit,” he said.

He explained that residents of Thailand’s Sa Kaew or Surin provinces could make their way into Siem Reap via Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey or Oddar Meanchey provinces, respectively.

The seven Thai provinces that border Cambodia are Trat, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaew, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchatani. The seven Cambodian provinces that border Thailand are Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear.

The Phnom Penh Post

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/world/asia-pacific/40021571

Halloween horror dims hope of recovery in Seoul’s entertainment hub

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022

Restaurants, cafes and clubs in Seoul’s popular nightlife district of Itaewon seemed to be on a smooth road to recovery at last after years of pandemic disruptions – before Saturday. But its hopes of a quick revival were wrecked in minutes as a surge among tens of thousands celebrating Halloween in its narrow streets crushed more than 150 people to death.

The neighbourhood – once the realm of expats and American soldiers on R&R – has transformed into a culturally diverse and trendy hub beloved of locals and visitors alike in recent years. Its “Brooklyn-style” gentrification has brought in global brands, including Gucci and Lululemon flagship stores.

Boosting its unique charm was 2020’s hit TV series “Itaewon Class”, which was set in the neighbourhood, and the relocation of the president’s office nearby in May this year.

But the country’s Covid-19 restrictions saw a mass shuttering of Itaewon businesses from 2020 until the end of last year.

So expectation was running high for the first “maskless” Halloween party in three years, with many local business owners convinced the immensely popular festivities would get them out of the woods.

However, business sentiment was destroyed immediately after Saturday’s deadly crowd surge. At least 154 people were killed and 103 injured in the narrow and hilly alleyways around the area’s landmark Hamilton Hotel.

Out of respect for the dead and/or fear following the crush, the usually bustling streets of Itaewon are likely to remain empty for some time.

Businesses in Itaewon are closing for a two-day mourning period, according to police and local vendors.

“Some stores have already stopped operations. Whether the temporary closure will extend depends on how the situation unfolds,” said one police officer, who wished to remain anonymous.

The Itaewon Special Tourism Zone Association, an organisation of business owners in the area, reportedly sent an emergency message urging members to temporarily operations out of respect to the victims.

As of Sunday morning, several restaurants, cafes and clothing stores were shuttered with signs reading “may they rest in peace” on their windows.

The closures were voluntary and some businesses were open as usual, but onlookers worried that the latest fiasco may lead to another prolonged downturn for an area already feeling the pinch from pandemic disruption and inflation.

Park, 41, who runs a franchise coffee shop across from the stampede site, said “there has been no disaster like this in the neighbourhood over the past few years. My store is closed today.”

In fact, the stampede was the second-worst accident in South Korea’s history, after the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that killed 306 people.

According to state-run real estate data provider Korea Real Estate Board, the vacancy rate at commercial properties in Itaewon surged to an average of 30 per cent at the pandemic peak of end-2020. But the figure showed signs of recovery, dropping to some 7 per cent last year when social distancing rules were relaxed.

South Korea has declared a week of national mourning until Saturday, asking local businesses and authorities to cancel Halloween festivals, events and parades.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to dine or meet with friends in Itaewon for some time,” Lee Ji-soo, a 32-year old said.

“It will remind me too much of the accident.”

The Korea Herald

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asia-pacific/40021565

India bridge death toll rises to 132 as rescuers search Machhu River

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022

Reuters

The death toll from a bridge that collapsed in Gujarat state in India rose to 132 on Monday, Reuters reported.

The footbridge in the town of Morbi was packed with people enjoying holiday sightseeing when it fell into the Machhu River on Sunday, plunging people into the fast-flowing current.

“The death toll in the bridge collapse incident has gone up to 132. The search and rescue operations are continuing,” senior official NK Muchhar told Reuters, warning that the victim count could rise further.

Military personnel have joined rescue teams from nearby districts to search the river for any remaining victims, Muchhar said.

More than 400 people were on and around the colonial-era bridge when it collapsed, said authorities. The bridge was a sightseeing point for people celebrating the Diwali and Chhath Puja holidays.

A five-member team has been tasked with investigating the causes of the disaster.

The 230-metre bridge was built in the 19th century during British rule. It was reopened recently after undergoing six months of repair and renovation.

Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asia-pacific/40021564

South Korea begins week of mourning, investigation as Seoul death toll rises to 154

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has declared a week of national mourning after at least 154 people were killed during a Halloween stampede in Seoul.

Partygoers were killed in the crush when a huge crowd celebrating Halloween surged into an alley in a nightlife area of the South Korean capital on Saturday night.

On Sunday, Yoon declared national mourning would be observed until Saturday (November 5) with government buildings will flying the flag at half-mast.

He also expressed condolences to victims and their families, prayed for quick recoveries among the injured, and vowed an investigation to find the cause.

US President Joe Biden also sent a message of solidarity: “Jill [Biden] and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the heavy casualties in the stampede, according to China’s Foreign Ministry website. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended deep condolences over the deaths of the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

The death toll from the crush among partygoers who had crowded into Seoul’s popular Itaewon district rose to 154 on Sunday. The accident is the second-worst in South Korea’s history, after the Sewol ferry disaster that killed 304 people in 2014.

At least one Thai was killed in the stampede, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in South Korea.

Read More: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/40021544

Restaurants and cafes in Itaewon will shut for three days, local police said on Sunday.

Read More: https://www.nationthailand.com/world/40021550

Tech and game firms Kakao and NCSoft pulled their Halloween promotions after the incident while South Korea’s Everland amusement park has cancelled its Halloween-themed events.

Regional governments and organisations across the country have also scrapped events to mark the festival tonight.