PHNOM PENH: AirAsia Cambodia officially launched its domestic operations today with a well-attended inaugural ceremony held yesterday at the Phnom Penh International Airport VIP Terminal.

His Excellency SEANG Thay, Secretary of State of Commerce, served as the high representative of Her Excellency CHAM Nimul, Minister of Commerce, at the ceremony. The event was presided over by His Excellency DR. MAO Havannall, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.

Other dignitaries in attendance included His Excellency SOK Soken, Minister of Tourism, representatives from the Cambodian Senate, National Assembly, and various ministries and institutions, ASEAN ambassadors to Cambodia, and representatives from AirAsia in other countries like Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Mr. TAN SRI TONY FERNANDES, Founder of AirAsia Aviation Group and owner of Capital A, also led a contingent from related companies.

This official inauguration marks a significant milestone for Cambodia's air transport sector. It showcases the industry's growth and further bolsters investor confidence in the country's potential.

The addition of AirAsia's domestic flights, connecting Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, is expected to contribute significantly to Cambodia's tourism sector by offering convenient and time-saving travel options for visitors.

Cambodia attracted 1.58 million international tourists in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, up 22.5 percent from 1.29 million in the same period of 2023, said a Ministry of Tourism's report latest released.

Thailand topped the chart among the international arrivals to the Kingdom in the above-mentioned period with some 449,781, a year-on-year decrease of 1.1 percent, the report said.

Some 299,391 Vietnamese, and 189,961 Chinese travelled to Cambodia during the three-month period, up 18.9 percent and 12 percent, respectively, it added.