PHNOM PENH: Spring Airlines, a Chinese budget carrier, has resumed direct flights between Xi’an, China, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after a pandemic-induced hiatus.
The inaugural flight was welcomed at Phnom Penh International Airport by high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Civil Aviation, the Minister of Tourism, the Chinese Ambassador, and tourism representatives.
To celebrate the occasion, passengers were greeted with traditional Cambodian dances and presented with Krama scarves and jasmine garlands.
The resumption of this route is expected to significantly increase Chinese tourism to Cambodia. Minister Mao Havannall emphasized the growing interest of Chinese travelers in the country, citing the rising number of Chinese tourists and the expansion of flight routes from China.
Ambassador Wang Wenbin highlighted the flight resumption as a crucial step in strengthening tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. He noted that Chinese flights to Cambodia have already reached over 60% of pre-pandemic levels.
China is a major source of tourism revenue for Cambodia, ranking third after Thailand and Vietnam. In the first eleven months of 2024, the country welcomed 769,775 Chinese visitors, a 54.5% increase compared to the same period last year.