PHNOM PENH: H.E. Pak Sokhom, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism and High Representative of H.E. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism, participated as a keynote speaker at the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Conference 2023 in Hong Kong from November 21 to 23, 2023.

Accompanied by Mr. Chuob Ratana, Director of the Department of Tourism Development Planning, H.E. Sokhom shared insights on the topic “ART AND CULTURE PRESERVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: GBA-ASEAN COLLABORATIONS IN HERITAGE CONSERVATION.”

The conference attracted over 400 attendees from various stakeholder groups. The participants expressed keen interest in Cambodia's well-preserved cultural heritage, recognized by its inscription on the World Heritage List, and acknowledged the significant contribution of art and culture to the sustainable development of the cultural sector.

In addition to the conference's central theme, discussions also explored two other crucial topics, the Empowering Sustainable Development: Exploring Green Finance Market in the GBA and ASEAN and the Green Technology used in basic life necessities: Clothing, Food, Housing, and Transportation.

H.E. Pak Sokhom highlighted the Royal Government and the Ministry of Tourism's unwavering commitment to preserving and conserving arts and culture to support the tourism sector, particularly in the Angkor area.

He emphasized the implementation of the Siem Reap Tourism Development Master Plan 2021-2035,  the 5-BUILD and 3Ds Initiatives championed by H.E. Minister Sok Soken, and the fruitful collaboration with the Apsara Authority. Furthermore, the official launch of Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is expected to enhance air travel connectivity to Cambodia's key markets and priorities.

H.E. Sokhom also informed the conference about the Royal Government's decision to designate 2024 as the second Cambodia-China Tourism and Culture Year. He extended an invitation to the delegation and all participants to explore the Kingdom of Cambodia's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.

The Greater Bay Area, with a population exceeding 86 million, presents a promising source of tourism markets and investment opportunities for ASEAN countries, including Cambodia.

Recognizing the potential for collaboration, H.E. Sokhom met with Mr. ZHOU LI, Deputy Director of Outreach of China Daily Group, and his team to discuss the possibility of organizing half marathon events at cultural destinations and conferences on sustainable tourism development in 2024. These initiatives would contribute significantly to the second Cambodia-China Tourism and Culture Year campaign.

The China Daily Group has successfully hosted similar events in Ayutthaya, Thailand; Luang Prabang, Laos; and Yangon, Myanmar, attracting over 2,000 participants from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.