Daily 12 March/März - ITB Berlin

ITB Berlin English Daily 2010 Friday 12 March XIX
After a tough year, Japan hopes for more government support
Japan’s tourism industry is optimistic that the country’s new government will show more
support for the sector than the outgoing regime has done. “The new government sees
tourism development as a priority, and I am hopeful they will give more financial help,”
says Ryuichi Hayashi of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Last year, international arrivals plummeted by 18.7% from 8.4 million to 6.89 million –
the sharpest decline since 1971. Tourism was hit not only by the weak global economy,
but also by a sharp rise in the yen against major currencies and by the fear of the
A(H1N1) influenza virus, say JNTO experts. As a result, Japan will fall far short of its
long-term visitor arrival target of 10 million arrivals by 2010.
Last year saw the collapse of Japan’s two most important incoming markets – South
Korea was down by 33.4 % to 1.6 million and Taiwan by 26.3% to 1.0 million. Europe
declined by 10.6% from January to October 2009. The only positive trend came from
China, which increased marginally to 1.0 million.
Head of the new Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Hiroshi Mizohata, hopes to boost the
China market further by persuading Japan’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Internal
Affairs to abolish of the salary cap imposed on individual visitors from China. For now,
mainland Chinese who want to come to Japan must earn at least US$36,500 a year to
get an individual visa.
Encouragingly, the government has already increased the budget for JNTO and JTA, and
declared a target of 15 million international visitors in 2014, including 5 million from
China. Among Japan’s main promotions for this year will be events to celebrate the
1,000th anniversary of the ancient city of Nara, which, JNTO hopes, will set the country
on the road to recovery.
Sihanoukville resort takes shape in Cambodia
In a bid to diversify tourism in areas other than Angkor Wat and the nearby city of Siem
Reap, Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism is promoting the southern coast around the city
of Sihanoukville as a new resort destination. The port city of Sihanoukville has seen its
tourism sector boom since 2006, especially after Thailand changed its length-of-stay
rules for foreign visitors – one way around the regulations is to cross the border into
Cambodia (at Sihanoukiville) and then re-enter Thailand again. Sihanoukville city now
receives some 400,000 tourists a year.
Two resorts will be developed on nearby islands: Song Saa Island Resort in the Koh Rong
archipelago is a 30-minute boat ride from Sihanoukville and will comprise private villas,
restaurants as well as a water sport centre and a spa. It is expected to be completed by
the middle of 2011. Another major development is taking place at Koh Puos, an island
located near Sihanoukville’s urban area. The 120-hectare resort be linked to the
mainland by a 900-metre bridge, and will include a series of hotels and private villas
(due by 2013), followed by a yacht club, a spa and offices (2014).
Meanwhile, Sokha Hotels, Cambodia’s largest hotel group, has completed an expansion
at Sokha Beach Resort, adding 70 traditional bungalows on stilts. It will be followed in