Korean college for Siem Reap

Cheju Halla, a Korean university, plans to build a university of tourism and hospitality in Siem Reap next year, Tourism Minister Thong Khon told reporters yesterday at a meeting with Han Soo Kim, the new South Korean ambassador to Cambodia.

The Ministry of Tourism has requested South Korea’s help in developing Cambodia’s tourism sector due to a sharp increase in the number of tourists from Korea.

Construction of the new university will start in 2013 and cost a total of US$20 million, said Thong Khon.

“South Korea is working to help us to set up a university of tourism and hospitality as we aim to move forward in developing tourism and cooperation between our two nations,” he said.

South Korea sent voluntary Korean-language teachers in April to provide language training to Cambodians, so that they can replace the current guides, who are Korean, in the next two years.

Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said the factors driving South Korean visitors to come to Cambodia include the high standard of living in Korea, the five direct flights from Korea to Cambodia per day and Cambodia’s many restaurants, as well as the good relationship between the governments of both countries.

According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Tourism, Korean visitors increased 38.9 per cent to more than 180,900 for the first four months of 2012 compared to 130,200 visitors for the same period of 2011.

Sourced: Phnom Penh Post