DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Over 1.5 mln foreign tourists visit Cambodia in first 5 months” plus 4 more

PHNOM PENH, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has attracted over 1.5 million international visitors in the first five months of 2012, up 26 percent compared with the same period last year, the statistics released by the tourism ministry showed Monday.

About 941,450 foreign tourists, or 62.5 percent of the total, visited the world heritage site Angkor archeological park in Siem Reap province, which is located about 315 km northwest of the capital city Phnom Penh.

During the January-May period this year, Vietnam topped the chart among the top 10 arrivals with 305,750 tourists, up 30 percent, followed by South Korea with 204,150, up 35 percent, and Chinese visitors ranked a third place, with 132,000, up 33 percent.

Thai visitors to Cambodia had surged by 89 percent to 78,160 thanks to the improving relations between the two neighbors after tensions over border disputed areas have eased since last July.

The report said some 49 percent of the visitors arrived in Cambodia by air, 48 percent by land and the rest by water ways.

Tourism industry is one of the four major pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. Last year, 2.88 million foreign tourists visited the country, bringing in a total revenue of 1.91 billion U. S. dollars.

PHNOM PENH, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's inflation rate had decelerated to 3.7 percent in May this year, down from 4.8 percent and 5.4 percent in April and March respectively, according to the latest statistics of the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) on Monday.

From April to May 2012, prices for food, rice, and fresh fish and seafood decreased by 0.8 percent, 1.5 percent and 3.3 percent respectively. Prices for pork and fruit dropped by 1.7 percent and 1.7 percent respectively, and price for gasoline declined by 5 percent.

Gasoline prices in Cambodia have continued falling to 1.25 U.S. dollars a liter on Monday, down 11 percent from 1.41 U.S. dollars in early May.

Cambodia predicts that the inflation rate is around 5 percent this year, down from 5.5 percent last year.

JAKARTA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said on Monday the country was attempting to produce bird flu vaccine to a sufficient level when the pandemic takes place.

The minister said that although the H5N1 virus attack had eased recently, the country needed to remain alert on the dangers as it has killed seven people this year in Indonesia.

Minister Nafsiah said that Indonesia needed over 50,000 units vaccine to be used when pandemic occurred and to help other countries.

"The process of production has been done in Bandung (the capital of West Java province). We must be ready when pandemic take place. We need over 50,000 units vaccines for it and to assist foreign countries," she said at the parliament building.

The minister said that thousands of vaccines had been produced so far.

Bird flu had attacked Indonesia, the hardest, since 2005, and then the attacks eased significantly. But, it has reemerged since last year, killing nine people in 2011.

Concerns on the bird flu attacks appear in the region following the reports of the death on the viruses in Indonesia, Cambodia, China and Vietnam.

BANGKOK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- During his three-day official visit, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan will make a royal visit to Ayutthaya province, Thailand's former capital and historical city in central region.

The Crown Prince is scheduled to visit the Ayutthaya Historical Study Center and the Japanese village in the province.

The Ayutthaya Historical Study Center was established in 1986 under the cooperation between Thai and Japanese scholars. The province has been chosen as the site of the center because it had served as a former capital of Thailand for 417 years and provided the foundation of modern Thai culture.

The 53-year-old prince will begin his first official to Thailand on June 25 at the invitation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Thailand is his first stop on the Southeast Asian tour which also includes Cambodia and Laos.

Crown Prince Naruhito's visit will mark the 126th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations which could be traced back to Ayutthaya era.