#Cambodia - Government creates ‘great tourism zones’

Tourists visit the Wat Phnom historic site in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A sub-decree issued Thursday coined ‘great tourism zones’, a term for areas where a wide range of tourism-related services is available.

In last week’s sub-decree, the government describes the zones as areas that have accommodation, food and beverage services, entertainment complexes, sports facilities, gardens, parks, health care centres, and other tourism-related facilities.

Great tourism zones must cover at least 100 hectares, according to the sub-decree.

Investors that wish to create great tourism zones in any part of the country must first submit an application to the Tourism Development Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, who will study and evaluate the project and submit a report to the government, the sub-decree said.

Top Sopheak, spokesman at the Ministry of Tourism, told Khmer Times that the concept of great tourism zones is modelled after special economic zones, areas that bring together facilities needed to streamline manufacturing activity.

“In Khmer, the word ‘great’ (piseth) has a similar meaning to the term ‘special’. That’s why the government chose this word,” Mr Sopheak said.

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“Great tourism zones are hubs that offer all tourism-related services. It is based on the same idea that special economic zones, which focus on manufacturing,” he said.

Mr Sopheak said great tourism zones cannot be established in existing tourism sites but only in new locations that show great tourism potential.

Source - Khmer Times

#Vietnam - Temple festival honoured

Amazing parade: One of the festivities at the Hai Bà Trưng Temple festival. The festival in Hà Nội’s Mê Linh District has officially received the title of ’National Intangible Cultural Heritage’

HÀNỘI — The Hai Bà Trưng Temple Festival in Hà Nội’s outskirt Mê Linh District has officially received the title ‘National Intangible Cultural Heritage’.

The title was awarded to the festival at its opening ceremony on Wednesday or the 6th day in the first month of the Lunar New Year to mark the 1,978th anniversary of the Hai Bà Trưng (Two Trưng Sisters) Uprising at the temple, a special national historical relic in the city.

The Chairman of Mê Linh District People’s Committee Đoàn Văn Trọng, said local people and authorities were happy and proud to receive the title.

  “In the future, we, the authorities and people in Mê Linh District, vow to continue to preserve and promote the cultural values as well as the history of the festival to deserve the great merit of the two national heroine sisters Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị”, said the official.

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According to Mê Linh District People’s Committee, the special national historical Hai Bà Trưng temples annually receive millions of visitors from across the country to conduct spiritual activities and enjoy cultural activites at the festival.

Prominent among delegates at the ceremony were Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh, Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Định Dũng and former Vice President Nguyễn Thị Doan.

On the sixth day of the second lunar month in AD40, Trưng sisters led a mass uprising against Chinese Han invaders to reclaim national independence after more than 200 years of foreign rule.

After defeating the invaders, Trưng Trắc became Queen. Three years later, the Han army returned and defeated the Trưng sisters and their army, after which the sisters killed themselves by jumping into the Hát Giang River.

  The uprising has gone down in Vietnamese history as a demonstration of the nation’s strength and patriotism, as well as the crucial role of Vietnamese women in national defence.

The festival comprises several rituals such as incense offering, a parade and folk performances. It will last until today, or the 8th day in the first lunar month.

Viet Nam News