Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

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General Mackevili
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Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by General Mackevili »

This article talks about how Thailand used to be the safe, cheap SEasia destination and Cambodia used to be the dangerous, politically unstable place to visit.

Are their roles being reversed?

I guess when Cambodian workers are leaving Thailand and returning to Cambodia, that should be a good indicator of something.

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Recently, thousands of Cambodian migrant workers left Thailand to return home. Thailand’s new military government has instilled fear in the hearts of many Cambodian workers.

There is debate as to whether they were forced out by the new Thai government or if it has to do with mass fear. Approximately 84,000 workers returned to Cambodia in the past month. In terms of living or traveling to Thailand and Cambodia, the tables have turned, and Cambodia seems to be a safer destination than Thailand in 2014. It has become a popular tourist destination, with people looking for a cheaper, more rural travel destination as an alternative to Thailand. This is interesting when examining the history of Thailand and Cambodia. Thailand has historically been a very popular tourist destination, whereas genocide and political unrest in Cambodia due to the Khmer Rouge left Cambodia with a reputation for being a very dangerous place to live and visit.

Until the 2000s, Cambodia was a tumultuous destination. The political group the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, gained power in the 1970s, during the end of war between the United States and Indochina. What followed was a period of government censorship, mass killings, and poor treatment of the Cambodian people. It is estimated that nearly 2 million Cambodians died during the Khmer Rouge era, which terminated in the late 1990s after the first democratic election facilitated by the United Nations. Their deaths were due to genocide, starvation, forced labor, and disease, killing off approximately 1/4 of the Cambodian population. Even after the Khmer Rouge publicly fractured and Pol Pot committed suicide in the late 1990s, factions of the Khmer Rouge continued to make Cambodia a terrifying and deadly place. The United Nations launched one of its biggest human rights efforts in attempting to set up a democratic government in 1996.

Cambodia still continued to struggle with violence and political unrest, but now, Cambodia has grown to be a much safer country. With some dispute, Cambodia has an established democratic, relatively peaceful government under Prime Minister HE. As the country has become safer, Cambodia has also become a more popular tourist destination.

There is still contention about the current Prime Minister’s intentions and landmines littered around the country that continue to claim innocent lives. However, for the intrepid traveler looking to go off the beaten path, Cambodia has become a “global hotspot.” With beautiful beaches, rolling countryside, magnificent temples, and cheap hotels, tourists are looking to vacation in Cambodia. The tourism industry has increased significantly. Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism commented that tourism is growing at such a substantial rate that there have been issues finding enough skilled workers to host these new travelers. An employee at the Ministry Kong Sopheareak remarked, that the tourism industry has a serious lack of skilled workers, including housekeepers, cooks, and tour guides. The numbers of tourists increase every year, enough so that there is a labor shortage.

It is interesting that Cambodia and Thailand are starting to switch places from a global tourism perspective. Thailand is entering a period of unrest with its new establishment of a military government, making many tourists cross it off on their desired destinations. On the other hand, tourism in Cambodia is growing rapidly, with more people feeling that it is a safer place, making it a popular country to travel to in South Asia.

Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/06/cambodia- ... Ef03t8o.99
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Soi Dog
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by Soi Dog »

General Mackevili wrote:This article talks about how Thailand used to be the safe, cheap SEasia destination and Cambodia used to be the dangerous, politically unstable place to visit.

Are their roles being reversed?

I guess when Cambodian workers are leaving Thailand and returning to Cambodia, that should be a good indicator of something.
Not a very well thought out piece. And those Cambodian workers would return to Thailand in a heartbeat if they could. When a million Thai citizens come to Cambodia looking for work, then you can talk about switching places.
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by General Mackevili »

It was actually talking about tourism... I don't think it really had much to do with the migrant workers, LoL. At least not as far as the "switching" goes.

I think it's just saying the reputation that the 2 countries have as far as tourists are concerned.
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by General Mackevili »

Soi Dog wrote: Not a very well thought out piece.
I think it was written by a tourist. For realz.
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by phuketrichard »

what shit;
Thailand is as safe as any western county for tourist. ( yes shit happens ..so what, it happens everywhere)
got to remember there over 22 million of them that visited last year

all the migrant workers an more will be back in Thailand within the month once they find they can not find a job that pays enough to live on.
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ryoon
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by ryoon »

Comparing Cambodia and Thailand for tourism it is like comparing Thailand and Japan for technologies.
The two countries are world apart.
PP do not even have a public system transport yet
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by GMJS-CEO »

I agree with the article. At this point Thailand offers little that would make it a more attractive destination. They even lose the battle of the expat internet forums where Cambodia has 2 better than the tops thailand has to offer.

The biggest thing is the people as the Thais are a hateful bunch - the land of fake smiles. Cambodians on the other hand are good people with genuine (usually) smiles.
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phuketrichard
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by phuketrichard »

HUH??
have u ever been to Thailand ( i don't mean Bangkok or Pattaya?)

Beaches, mtn, rivers, forests, national parks, diving, fishing, golf courses and i could go on an on...
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by FreeSocrates! »

GMJS-CEO wrote:The biggest thing is the people as the Thais are a hateful bunch - the land of fake smiles. Cambodians on the other hand are good people with genuine (usually) smiles.
Which parts of Thailand have you been to?

I don't find this at all.
The cedar roasted asparagus has good chew. I don't know how to enjoy it, so I'll Instagram it instead.
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Re: Are Cambodia and Thailand Switching Places?

Post by GMJS-CEO »

phuketrichard wrote:HUH??
have u ever been to Thailand ( i don't mean Bangkok or Pattaya?)

Beaches, mtn, rivers, forests, national parks, diving, fishing, golf courses and i could go on an on...
thailand does have the advantage on the beaches. Koh Samui I have been numerous times and I would choose a hotel at the end away from all the noise. I know some friends that love Chiang Mai and a friend of mine lived for years with his wife there, I just didn't find it so appealing on my visits.

Last visit to Thailand I went to Chanthaburi and stayed with some khmer in-laws. Them and their thai neighbors were not well off but made sure to fill me with beer and food which of course I returned the favor.

Visit before that in hospital after airlift which reminds me, thailand does have much better medical care.
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