Cambodia - Kingdom of Wonder
You wouldn't believe I work in tourism would you...I forgot to mention the new branding for wooing tourists to visit Cambodia. In attempting to highlight the country and its many attractions, the tourism folks are now telling everyone that Cambodia is more than just Angkor Wat. With a heavy focus on eco-tourism, adverts on CNN International also include Apsara dancers, beaches, shadow puppets and of course, Angkor, under the new slogan of Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder.
So how do you think its sits alongside the other slogans in this part of the world? Here's a few for your digestion: "Amazing Thailand. “Uniquely Singapore.” “Incredible India.” “100% Pure New Zealand.” “Where The Bloody Hell Are You? Come To Australia.” “Malaysia, Truly Asia.” “Indonesia—Islands of the Gods.” “Korea—Soul of Asia.” “Hong Kong—Live It, Love It.” The list goes on. As you are probably aware, Cambodia received 2 million visitors last year (and tourism revenue amounted to $1.4 billion). So how are the other countries in Asia doing on visitor arrivals? Malaysia rose from single digits to 17.5 million visitors in 2006. It expects to hit the 22 million mark this year, and will dislodge Thailand as Southeast Asia’s most preferred destination, being voted as 2007’s world’s favorite. Already the world’s fifth most popular tourist destination, China plans to be the global leader by 2020. China received 28.12 million tourists last year whilst Hong Kong welcomed 28 million. With a national carrier that boasts of flying the world’s biggest aircraft, the A-380, Singapore is about to hit its target of 17 million visitors in 2008. Thailand are looking at receiving 15 million guests this year. Indonesia averages 5.5 million visitors yearly, Vietnam reached 4 million in 2007 whilst the Philippines will receive 3 million. Finally, Laos topped 1.6 million arrivals last year.
posted by Andy Brouwer at
9:35 AM
6 Comments:
Hi Andy, we'd like to know which exchange of comments that took place in your blog was the most hilarious and instigating from your point of view??? - Best, from Alastair and Syd
The personal attack on my dress sense was perhaps the funniest in recent times. Why anyone would want to attack my shirts in particular befuddled me but it was funny. I never dressed to impress on my travels, instead choosing shirts that would protect me from the sun and the dust and wouldn't show up the dirt either...more practical than stylish. :-)
Andy
Thanks, Andy. Maybe you've become a blog star - but one that's moving outside, we can see you, you let see yourself... You are a born traveler yet work in the tourism industry, which is in itself a contradiction... You are also an adventurer, sort of an explorer, temple hunter... maybe your style of dressing just don't fit peoples' expectations... maybe is that simple...
Well, we've posed that question because a friend of ours had tipped yr blog. The 1st post we read was "Tarnished Reputation"! We've laughed so much, that we're wondering, "is this a humour blog or what?! Is this guy serious???" - Best, Syd-Al.
I do indeed love travelling and funnily enough, on all my previous trips to Cambodia (every year since 1994) I studiously avoided all other travellers/tourists/foreigners where at all possible. So now working in the tourism industry is a complete contradiction for me. And quite painful, but I'm getting used to it.
My reputation has never been one to brag about anyway, but I thought the photo by Eric was one that showed the other side of me (which appeared only on our six monthly bar-hop) rather than the studious temple-hunting freak who attends film and arts shows. And not much else. And of course, it was all tongue-in-cheek. Though seriously, I drink as rarely as Queen Elizabeth I dropped her drawers.
Andy
Not very different from you, I am all so a tourism boy. I have worked in this industry for 2 years before I am coming to China for my MBA of tourism management. To me the slogan is very nice and it is somehow can represent Cambodia tourism. However, what we need to do now is promoting our Cambodia to the market as much as we can, so it will become known like "Malaysia - Truly Asia", "Amazing Thailand" and so on. I think the cloud which block the world to see Cambodia as a good destination is not very much now. So we need to work hand in hand (Gov't and Private) to blow out that cloud and show to the world the Kingdom of Wonder.
Chivuth
Hi Andy,
Some people heard about Cambodia, some people still think of the killing field because of the famous movie "The killing field".
Cambodia needs people like you Andy to write the good about Cambodia so people will come to visit Cambodia more.
I think Cambodia should use the Bayon smiling faces temple calling
"Cambodia - Kingdom of smiles" instead of "Cambodia - Kingdom of Wonder":-)
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