Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said he hoped that the new tour connecting Phu Quoc Island with the provinces of Koh Kong, Kongpong Som, Kampot and Posat, would help increase the number of foreign travellers, including those from neighbouring Laos and Vietnam, to Cambodia.

The minister explained that Phu Quoc Island is emerging as an attractive destination for tourists in the region, and according to some forecasts, it can draw around 3 million visitors each year by 2012.

He noted Cambodia needs to improve its infrastructure facilities as well as the tourism environment in a move to develop the non-smoking industry in the years to come.

Minister Thong Khon added that Vietnam’s tourism sector has attracted a growing number of foreign visitors thanks to its increased amount of investment poured into tourism facilities and traffic infrastructure.

DUBAI, UAE, May 3, 2010/PRNewswire/ — With the development of the Dubai Cruise Terminal and a successful 2009-2010 cruise season flying over one thousand eight hundred passengers, Seawings, the Middle East’s only Seaplane tour operator will continue to expand its cruise operations.

Given the current market growth and demand for exciting experiences expected for the 2010-2011 cruise season, Seawings will have two seaplanes permanently based at Port Rashid Cruise terminal as well as a fully operational check in terminal lounge.

Commenting on the expansion, Prerna Fogat, Business Manager of Seawings said, “Since starting operations in late 2007, the partnership with the cruise lines has been a successful endeavour. With the cruise segment growing and guests having very limited time in each destination, we worked to establish an operation departing directly from the Port Rashid cruise terminal to offer guests a way to see Dubai and all its icons in less than an hour. The seaplane experience provides guests with a unique way to discover the sheer scale of Dubai from the sky.”

The additional capacity, with the two seaplanes permanently based at the cruise terminal, will allow Seawings the ability to handle the required demand as it enters the 2010-2011 cruise season.

With the increase of Cruise line traffic and cruise liners like Costa, Aida and Royal Caribbean adding extra fleet to the region, Seawings will continue to develop its seaplane services and will design packages and offerings specifically for the cruise lines and their guests.

The festival is expected to attract the participation of 150 domestic and foreign coffee businesses.

The festival, which is organised by the Dak Lak People’s Committee, aims to promote coffee exports and attract investment so that Vietnamese coffee will become a world known trademark.

Hotels have committed to reducing their service prices by 30-50%, following implementation of the programme from January to September, said Mr. Tran Chien Thang, director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) at a press briefing in Hanoi on January 5.

The national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, also pledged to provide special ticket offers, decreasing price by 30-50%, for both domestic and international flights.

Other service suppliers have committed to offering price reductions to attract more visitors.

The VNAT will boost promotion campaign via the Internet and the mass media both at home and abroad, and launch the programme’s official website.

Big tourism events such as the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) scheduled for early January in Hanoi, is considered as the focus of the programme.

The VNAT will continue to study domestic and international markets to launch new tours as well as offering farmtrip and presstrip from a range of countries to Vietnam.

At present, 37 travel agencies, 61 hotels, 3 transporters and 14 souvenir shops join the programme, offering 99 discounted products. “This is an opportunity for businesses to work together to build a trademark for Vietnam’s tourism sector,” Mr. Thang said.