Chinese crew shoot film in Cambodia to promote its tourism

A Chinese team of 100 casts and crews on Tuesday began to film an episodic drama series titled " Love is Brave' in Cambodia to help promote its attractive tourism destinations and culture to the Chinese people.

Cambodian officials and tourism experts voiced their support for the project, saying it was not only important to attract more and more Chinese tourists to this Southeast Asian nation, but also crucial to boost cultural ties between the two countries.

"The film will greatly promote Cambodia's tourism sites to the Chinese people," Ang Kim Eang, president of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, which represents 220 tour and travel companies, told Xinhua Tuesday. "More importantly, it will help to strengthen cultural ties and people-to-people connection between the two nations."

Ho Vandy, president of World Express Tours and Travel, said the drama series would be a driving force to attract more Chinese tourists to Cambodia.

"When Chinese people have watched their famous movie stars filmed at Cambodia's tourism sites, they may want to see the beauty of Cambodia's attractive sites with their own eyes," he told Xinhua. "So, I believe that Cambodia's tourism will greatly benefit from this Chinese drama series."

"Love is Brave" would feature a heart-breaking and touching love story involving a couple played by renowned Chinese actor Huang Haibo and actress Zhang Jingchu, said a press statement.

The 30-episodes drama depicting urban emotional love is being produced by Beijing Jinyi Celebration Cultural Promotion Company and directed by Beijing's renowned director Cao Dun.

"The production house had chosen culturally rich Cambodia as the overseas location set for the story scenes where the characters meet and fall in love," the statement said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An said the drama series would be shot at the ancient Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site.

"This project clearly shows Cambodia's favorable conditions for international film productions," he said. "The film will help further strengthen cultural ties between Cambodia and China."

The drama series will be screened by Hunan TV, a very popular TV channel with full coverage in China.

"I believe that through this film, more and more Chinese will visit Cambodia," he said.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said a team of some 100 casts and crews would spend one month filming in Cambodia; then, they would continue to shoot in Beijing to complete the production.

"The movie will help promote Cambodia's tourism destinations to Chinese market," he said, adding that the film would also be shot at some tourism sites in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

According to Thong Khon, China is the second largest source of tourists to Cambodia. Last year, some 463,000 Chinese visited Cambodia, up 39 percent year-on-year.

"Cambodia is expected to greet 800,000 Chinese visitors in 2015 and up to 2 million in 2020," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo said it was a milestone for cultural relations and cooperation between China and Cambodia.

"Through the drama series, Chinese will better understand Cambodian culture and daily life," she said. "I have confidence that more Chinese people will visit Cambodia after they have watched this movie."

Yuan Hui, chairwoman of Beijing Jinyi Celebration Cultural Promotion Company, said the film would provide a golden chance for Cambodia to showcase its traditions, customs and beautiful landscape to more than 1 billion people in China and other Asian countries.

 The film project was initiated by the ASEAN-China Center.

Sourced: Cambodia News