Work tees off on Cambodia-Vietnam cross-border golf course
PHNOM PENH - Golfers will soon be able to tee off in Cambodia and finish their round in Vietnam following the start of construction on a cross-border resort that officials say is the first of its kind in Asia.
The 100-million-dollar project, which is being backed by Malaysia's CVI Resorts Company, will feature nine holes on either side of the border, as well as a five-star hotel, business centre and a cultural village, said Cheang Am, governor of Cambodia's Svay Rieng province where the resort will be located.
"The goal is to attract tourists to the region. Since this is a big economic development zone, we also want to bring in investors," he told AFP Thursday.
The project is located near the main land crossing between the two countries which has seen in increase in traffic as tourist numbers swell.
"Many tourists are now travelling between Vietnam and Cambodia and they only stop to eat lunch before continuing their trip," he added.
"But when we have such a resort they might stay for awhile -- when they come to play here, of course they'll spend money."
Normal visa requirements for the two countries will remain but the plan is to put a border checkpoint inside the resort.
Cambodia is hoping to build on the success of its Angkor temples, which remain the country's biggest attraction for visitors, to expand its key tourism sector with more upscale offerings to keep tourists in the country longer.
Six companies were given permission by the Cambodian government last month to develop resorts worth 627 million dollars on islands off the country's southern coast.
Tourist arrivals to Cambodia continue to soar, up 20 percent in the first half of 2007 compared with the same period last year, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said last week.
More than two million visitors pumping some 1.5 billion dollars into the economy are expected here by year's end, he said.
Cambodia recorded about 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2006. Tourism is one of the few sources of foreign exchange for the country, one of the world's poorest.
Agence France Presse - August 9, 2007.
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