History Creates Tourism

WORLD Tourism Day 2019 will be celebrated on September 27 and Cambodia and Djibouti have won the honor to be global examples in the tourism and cultural world for 2019, according to a string of key decisions for tourism and culture future in 2019 taken by the global tourism institutions.

Phnom Penh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia and Djibouti city, the capital of The Republic of Djibouti were selected as the official model cities for World Tourism Day celebrations and official hosts of global tourism events.

Both Djibouti and Phnom Penh where in previous years selected as World`s Capital of Culture and Tourism and globally recognized as centers of heritage, tourism and culture.

The  theme was decided to be History and Tourism: A symbiotic relationship!, destined not only to enliven tourism during 2019, but also to emphasize that tourism is inextricably linked with historical legacy.

History is the main attraction that is creating tourism demand and visitors expectation is linked with the existence of historical and cultural heritage.



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A small country with a huge heart

A small country with a huge past, Cambodia, a popular holiday destination among travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK, has seen growth double through the years offering tour operators the opportunity to market their own specially crafted vacation packages. Vietnamese Private Tours offers its own tours and trip deals in 2019 taking advantage of the growing number of travellers to the region.

Its rich history is challenging, enchanting and ever present. Voted the world‘s friendliest nation, the Cambodian people smile their way throughout the day. Its blossoming art scene and funky bars and restaurants contrast nicely with its ancient temples and colonial decay plus its throbbing cities and island beaches are the perfect place to relax and play.

#Cambodia is warm to hot year round with a rainy season between June and October. Don’t be too put off by the term ‘rainy’ though. It’s actually a great time of the year to visit. The temperature is a little cooler and the land lush green. Most of the downpours are in the afternoon or at night and they only last for a couple hours or so making them easy to plan around.

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Magical places to retire to

A new report from the editors at Internationalliving.com points to five jaw-droppingly beautiful places to enjoy a magical retirement, for less. In the right places around the world, retirees can combine a fulfilling, affordable lifestyle in stunning surrounds. International Living’s report delves into five beautiful retirement havens—in Portugal, Mexico, Ireland, Peru, and Cambodia—that offer spectacular surroundings, high quality of life, and affordable costs.

A favorite summer retreat of the former royal family, Sintra is full of national treasures. Just a 40-minute train journey from Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, its palaces, mansions, and architectural follies deliver an enchanted setting. 

For those who dream of living a cosmopolitan lifestyle in a gorgeous setting, Cusco—Peru’s most historic city—is a front runner. This 500-year-old colonial gem has ample domed churches and ancient, pedestrian-only cobblestone streets. 

The west coast of Ireland is enormously inviting, with sandy coves tucked away between cliffs and rocky headlands. The difficult thing will be deciding where to settle—from the heathery mountains of Donegal down to the craggy peninsulas of Kerry, the entire western seaboard delivers a bonanza of scenic splendors. Spanned by a cycling or driving route known as the Wild Atlantic Way.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico was officially founded in 1541, getting rich when silver was discovered in the nearby states of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi. Supplying the mines and catering to the workers and travelers passing through brought wealth to the city. Plus many of the newly rich silver barons chose to live there. Today, its historic center is pretty much the same as it was 250 years ago, and in 2008 San Miguel was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City.

Siem Reap, Cambodia, the exotic sights and sounds of the Kingdom of Wonder shoots Cambodia to the top of many peoples’ wish list. The nation’s rich history, traditions and culture; its ancient temples, royal palaces and saffron-robed monks attract visitors and expats both. Known as Cambodia’s “temple town,” Siem Reap, in north-western Cambodia, is surrounded by the ruins of the ancient temple city.

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Colonial chic river cruising

CRUISING is an attractive option to experience corners of exotic Southest Asia landscapes, mysterious World Heritages and colonial history - a leisurely relaxing trip on the tranquil waters of some most stunning rivers. The intimate cruises experience take deeply to the water on a relaxed voyage to explore far flung destinations from the river. 

Experience the sights and sounds of Burma’s Ayeyarwady River or the World Heritage Site of Vietnam’s Halong Bay on a elegance wooden yacht. Sail between Vietnam and Cambodia in a colonial style vessel. Ciao Travel offer amazing journeys for 2018 and 2019, either Cruises or experience land destinations around magical Southest Asia.

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Angkor Wat is world’s #1 landmark for two years in a row

CAMBODIA'S Angkor Wat has again been named the world’s best-rated landmark, announced by TripAdvisor making it the second year running the historic sight in Asia has topped the list.

Located in Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is a temple complex, which was originally constructed in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire. Towards the end of the 12th century the temple gradually transformed into the Buddhist temple it is today. #AngkorWat is the largest religious monument in the world, measuring an impressive 402 acres.

Top-rated experience: Private Full-Day Angkor Temple and Sunset Viewing – tickets start from £29.30 per person, dependent on group size.

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Education and Eco-adventure in the canopy

ANGKOR Zipline is the only permanent educational eco-adventure canopy tour inside Angkor Park and the only zipline in Siem Reap, #Cambodia. Formerly Flight of the Gibbon, this one of a kind jungle eco-adventure has operated since 2012, but was acquired in January 2017 by a group of international investors.

The gold zipline eco-adventure features 9 individual ziplines, 1 double zipline, 3 suspended sky bridges and any many other course features designed to both educate and energize guests. 

The silver zipline eco-adventure was created for guests with less time, and smaller budgets.

Both options offer the thrill of #ziplining, while also learning about the wildlife, history and environment inside Angkor Park, considered one on the 10 modern wonders of the world and a UNESCO world heritage site.



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Temples to Tees

THE South East Asian nation of Cambodia is becoming increasingly popular with foreign tourists, attracting more than five million visitors in 2016 and with around seven million expected by 2020.

#Golf tourism is still very much in its infancy, however. There are currently nine golf courses in #Cambodia: four in capital Phnom Penh including the country’s oldest course, Cambodia Golf & Country Club, which opened in 1996, the Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club course by Nicklaus Design and the IMG-managed Garden City Golf Club, which opened in 2013; three in Siem Reap, including Angkor Golf Resort’s Nick Faldo-designed course which opened in 2007 and former Asian Tour venue Phokeethra Country Club; and two courses on the coast at Dara Sakor Golf Club, forming the first part of a project by a Chinese developer in Koh Kong province.

A further two Faldo Design courses are set to open soon at Vattanac Golf Resort, a development 15km from the centre of Phnom Penh which is being built by international construction group Arup. The first course at the resort is due to open for play by late 2018.

Cambodia’s lure for golfers is underpinned by its appeal as a tourist destination, with the main attraction being the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site temple complex near Siem Reap that includes Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. It was named the world’s top UNESCO heritage site by review website TripAdvisor in November.

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Indians Seek Experiential Travel in 2018

THE Indian millennial traveler is willing to spend more for enriching trips. The year 2017 also saw an increase in Indians who want staycations, preferring the local interactions that such stays offer. More and more Indians are taking to experiential travel with a focus on offbeat destinations. Using Trippin Traveller’s data based on its customers, more Indian millennials are choosing experiences over packaged sightseeing tours.

The most popular destinations for 2017 included Cambodia and Vietnam internationally and Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand in #India. For 2018, upcoming travel interests include Laos, which has a vibrant backpacker scene, Israel, which has a fascinating combination of history and modernity, and Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in India.

Among other interesting statistics, rural travel is fast gaining popularity with substantial development expected in rural tourism in 2018 and beyond. Trippin Traveller’s data found that Indians in the age group of 30-45 years were most likely to ask for and undertake rural travel to offbeat places in India.

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Vietjet connects Ho Chi Minh City with Phnom Penh

VIETJET has started selling tickets for the Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) – Phnom Penh (Cambodia) route with prices starting from only VND199,000 (USD8.8 excluding taxes and fees). 

The new route will be put into operations as of November 24, 2017, looking to meet the trading and traveling demands between the two famous economic and financial hubs of Vietnam and Cambodia.



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Solo travel top 5 destinations from Flash Pack

SOLO travel adventure holiday specialist Flash Pack was founded in 2014 by 30-somethings Radha Vyas and Lee Thompson, who were both frustrated by the lack of appealing group travel tour companies for single travellers their age.

Current bookings and recent search data show that certain destinations are top of the list for single travellers, who seek off the beaten track, small group adventures with like-minded travellers in their 30s and 40s.

1. Vietnam and Cambodia (60% female)

This 14-day adventure was one of the first tours launched in 2014 and continues to be the best seller. Each group has 14 people and a mix of Brits, Americans and Australians. Highlights of this tour include hiking the bamboo forests in Sapa, where few tour companies can go, a Hanoi street food tour, kayaking through limestone caves in Halong Bay, a Vietnamese cooking class and spending the night onboard a traditional junk boat.

2. Stunning Sri Lanka (80% female)

Rapidly catching up with Vietnam and Cambodia, is the popular Stunning Sri Lanka 11-day tour launched in 2015. It is a shorter trip and more appealing to people that haven’t travelled solo before. Flashpackers love the boutique hotels, visiting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Galle Fort, the Citadel of Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Sigiriya Rock Fortress), the wildlife safari in Yala National Park, bathing a local elephant in Amaya Lake, releasing baby turtles at a turtle-hatching project, and cycling through the ruins of Polonnaruwa by bike.

3. The Peak of Peru (50% male/50% female)

Since launching late 2016, each new date released of this 12-day tour is sold out within two weeks. The adventure level on his tour is higher as it includes challenges such as climbing the 5000m high Rainbow Mountain. Other highlights include exploring the capital city of Lima, boarding a traditional Amazonian boat into the jungle for a trek, cruising down the Madre de Dios River at night, strolling the charming streets of Cuzco, discovering Machu Pichu, cycling through the highlands of the Sacred Valley, and enjoy delicious Latin American cuisine washed down with potent Pisco sours.

4. Myanmar (40% male)

This unique 12-day tour attracts a different type of solo traveller to the other trips as it takes visitors completely off the beaten path to places where there are no other tourists. As an emerging destination, this tour is popular with well-travelled solo travellers. The best part is travelling down the Inle Lake toward Loikaw and meeting the Kayah’s Long Neck Karen tribe after a jungle picnic. Other highlights include a tour of Bagan’s temples by electric bike, a private cruise on the Ayeyarwady river, exploring Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset, trekking across Green Hill Valley and a visit to a Snake Temple.

5. Spain Vespa (50% male/50% female)

With so many ‘wow’ moments on this long weekend around the Segovia region of Spain, this is definitely the most instagrammed trip. Highlights including learning to ride an iconic vespa and feeling free whilst zooming through rural countryside with magnificent mountain views, visiting the stunning medieval villages of Riaza, Sepulveda and Pedraz, and enjoying local cuisines paired perfectly with local Spanish wines.

www.flashpack.com

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TripAdvisor Announces World's Top Landmarks With Travelers' Choice Awards

THE awards honor 706 landmarks in 82 countries.

"These iconic sights are cultural and historical touchstones for visitors across the globe," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "Summer is the perfect time for travelers to plan a visit to one of these landmarks. To enhance the experience at many of these signature places, visitors can book tours on TripAdvisor that offer unique perspectives or special VIP access."

Top 10 Landmarks in the World:

1.   Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia
2.   Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3.   Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba - Cordoba, Spain
4.   St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican City, Italy
5.   Taj Mahal - Agra, India
6.   Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - St. Petersburg, Russia
7.   Great Wall at Mutianyu - Beijing, China
8.   Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu, Peru
9.   Plaza de Espana - Seville, Spain
10. Duomo di Milano - Milan, Italy

For the complete list of the 2017 Travelers' Choice Landmarks winners, as well as reviews and candid traveler photos, go to: www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Landmarks


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Welcome to . . .

Adam Jacot de Boinod’s  Wide World of Cultures 

• In Myanmar, it is taboo for a pregnant woman to go to a funeral or visit a cemetery, while in Bhutan passing a funeral is good luck and passing a wedding is bad luck. 

• Cambodians associate colours with luck or the lack of it: Monday is orange and a good day for spending and not lending money; Wednesday is green and not a good haircutting day; Saturday is black and a bad day to attempt anything too ambitious but a good day for getting in touch with one's ancestry. 

• Armenians from the former Soviet Union believe that giving an even number of flowers brings bad luck. 

• Among Latin Americans, the gift of a knife or knives suggests the cutting of a relationship; yet this notion can be blunted by including a coin with the knives. 

• In Hong Kong, present your gift with both hands. 

• In the Middle East, a handkerchief suggests tears or parting, and therefore is inappropriate as a gift. 

Adam Jacot de Boinod worked on the first series of BBC Television’s QI for Stephen Fry, and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World – Penguin Books, £10.

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Picture Credit: 78678985@N04/28449838232">Floating gardens</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com