Present at the meeting were the CEO of CTB, esteemed members of the board, and other relevant stakeholders. The meeting took place at the Rosewood Hotel Meeting Room.

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Thailand leads the pack in terms of visitor source countries, with over 770,000 tourists visiting Cambodia. Following closely behind are Vietnam and China, contributing over 528,000 and 326,000 tourists respectively. Other notable markets include Laos, the US, Korea, and several European and Asian countries.

Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, H.E. Sok Soken, highlighted the significance of China’s growing tourist market. He sees this as an opportunity to not only boost tourism development but also attract investments across various sectors.

Interestingly, the report also reveals an increase in outbound tourism from Cambodia. Roughly 740,000 Cambodians traveled abroad for leisure purposes in the first half of 2024, reflecting a slight year-on-year growth.

Tourism plays a crucial role in Cambodia’s economy, alongside garment exports, agriculture, and construction. The Ministry is optimistic about the industry’s future, aiming to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2025. Their projections indicate a potential 7 million international visitors, exceeding the 2019 figure of 6.6 million.

Cambodia’s tourism appeal is further strengthened by recent accolades. Four of its destinations secured spots on Tripadvisor’s list of Asia’s Best Tourist Attractions. Siem Reap’s Angkor Wat secured the prestigious second place, while Ta Prohm and Bayon temples followed closely behind. Additionally, Phnom Penh’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum earned 22nd place.

Beyond the captivating ancient temples, Cambodia boasts a stunning coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces. This 450-kilometer stretch offers pristine beaches, making it a perfect complement to the country’s cultural treasures.

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Headed by H.E. Sok Soken, the Minister of Tourism, the CTB boasts a diverse membership. Seven public institutions relevant to tourism and seven representatives from the private sector join forces on this 15-member board. This commitment to collaboration aims to strengthen partnerships and cooperation between public and private entities, fostering a more robust tourism industry in Cambodia.

The CTB’s mission is clear, by enhancing Cambodia’s competitiveness in the global tourism market. Working together, the board will develop solutions to address current challenges, create a comprehensive plan with clear goals and strategies for future development, and ultimately transform Cambodia into a leading and vibrant tourist destination.

The CTB will serve as a key mechanism for promoting Cambodian tourism. Effective marketing and promotion will target priority markets and attract visitors. But the board’s support goes beyond marketing. It will also actively address challenges faced by the private sector, contribute to developing strategic tourism plans, and participate in solutions for other industry issues that may arise.

The launch of the CTB is expected to significantly contribute to the Ministry of Tourism’s strategic initiatives “Build Plus 3Ds”. Furthermore, it aligns with the Royal Government’s vision for the first phase of its seventh pentagonal strategy for tourism – positioning Cambodia as a premier tourist destination. With this collaborative approach, the Cambodia Tourism Board is poised to drive significant growth within the industry.

World Bank Report in June

Cambodia’s economic recovery is accelerating, driven by a rebound in tourism and exports, according to the latest World Bank report. However, growth remains slower compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Tourist arrivals are picking up, with the first quarter of 2024 reaching 84.3% of 2019 levels. This recovery pace is similar to Thailand but lags behind Vietnam. An important shift is happening within tourism.

Land border crossings now account for a larger share (60%) of arrivals compared to air travel (40%) in the pre-pandemic period. This suggests lower tourist spending as air travel typically involves higher expenditure. Chinese tourist arrivals, previously the largest group, have plunged to just 12% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to nearly 40% before the pandemic.

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Leading the Cambodian delegation is H.E. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism. He’s joined by representatives from the ministry, private sector businesses, and cultural artists. This prestigious group traveled to India aboard the very first direct flight from Phnom Penh to New Delhi, a new route launched by Cambodia Angkor Air.

The new service, which began yesterday, will operate four times a week initially. Cambodia Angkor Air anticipates increasing the frequency to seven flights weekly “by the end of the year,” according to the Ministry of Tourism.

New Flights, Strong Ties

The inaugural flight of Cambodia Angkor Air’s Phnom Penh-New Delhi route was celebrated at Phnom Penh International Airport. Government officials from both Cambodia and India, along with aviation and tourism industry leaders, attended the event.

Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, H.E. Sante Pundit Neth Savoeun, emphasized the importance of the new route, stating, “This inaugural direct flight will significantly promote the social, cultural, and economic ties between Cambodia and India.”

Tourism on the Rise

Officials are optimistic that the new flights will significantly increase tourist arrivals in both countries. Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reports a 25% year-on-year jump in Indian visitors during the first quarter of 2024, with over 20,560 Indians choosing Cambodia as their travel destination. The Cambodia-India Tourism Year 2024 is expected to further accelerate this positive trend.

This new connection is seen as a major boost for travel between the two nations. Shared cultural heritage, healthcare opportunities, and historical ties are all factors expected to drive passenger traffic. Benefits go beyond tourism, with the potential to strengthen economic and cultural ties, as Cambodia Angkor Air highlighted, “this connection will not only boost tourism but also foster deeper cultural and economic relations between both nations.”

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In her keynote address, H.E. Cham Nimul highlighted Cambodia’s vibrant and promising business climate. She emphasized the country’s remarkable economic growth, averaging over 7% annually for the past two decades. This success, she attributed to a strong foundation of political stability, sound economic policies, and a government that actively fosters public-private dialogue.

The MOC, working collaboratively with the MOT, is actively developing frameworks to facilitate competitive business operations and enhance the overall business environment.

Cambodia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) is projected to surge in 2024, reaching an estimated US$4.25 billion, which translates to roughly 9.0% of the country’s GDP. This optimistic forecast comes amidst a flurry of investment activity in key sectors.

Minister Cham Nimul encouraged investors to explore the vast potential Cambodia offers, from its growing economy and strategic location to its advancements in the digital sphere.

Cambodia’s commitment to digital transformation was also a key focus. The Minister highlighted several government initiatives, including the Cambodia Data Exchange (CAMdx), verify.gov.kh, the National Single Window, CambodiaTrade.com, the Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework, the Digital Skill Development Road Map, and digital payment systems like Bakong.

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This development aligns perfectly with the Ministry of Tourism‘s “BUILD + 3Ds” initiative, spearheaded by Minister H.E. Sok Soken. The initiative emphasizes diversifying tourism offerings and leveraging existing resources, making cruise tourism a strategic fit.

Silversea Cruises currently operates a cruise package linking Hong Kong with Hoi An (Vietnam), and Phuket (Thailand). Cambodia has the potential to be the exciting new jewel in this established route.

To make their case, Cambodian tourism officials, Mr. Chuob Ratana, Director of the Department of Tourism Development Planning, presented Silversea representatives with key tourism data. This data included details on tourist attractions, visitor demographics, average tourist spending, and popular travel seasons. The goal is to convince Silversea of the potential Cambodia holds as a captivating destination for their cruise passengers.

The positive discussions pave the way for further collaboration. Cambodian officials are committed to providing Silversea with all the necessary information to make Cambodia an attractive stop on their future cruise itineraries. This enthusiasm is further bolstered by the early success of Sihanoukville, a coastal city that has already welcomed 15 international cruise ships in the first four months of 2024. These ships included the Seabourn Encore, Westerndam, Rivera, Aida Stella, and Viking Orion, bringing over 10,000 international tourists to the city.

Sihanoukville saw the declined in cruise ship tourism compared to pre-pandemic level, which welcomed 80,000 international visitors in 2019. This decline highlights the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to revive this sector in Cambodia.

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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.

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According to the Ministry of Tourism, the discussion focused on promoting tourism cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia and the Henan Provincial Administration under the spirit of “Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024”, “Action Plan for Building a Common Destiny of Cambodia-China Community in the New Era (2024-2028)” between the Government of China and the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodia-China Diamond Cooperation Structure.

The outcome of the meeting culminated in H.E. Minister and H.E. Sun Shougang signing the minutes of meeting, focusing on the implementation of the project “Strengthening Cooperation between Cambodia-Henan-ASEAN “Silk Road Project”” and agreeing to establish the working group to implement the contents of the minutes of meeting effectively to support the tourism development of the two countries.

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The agreement was made in a meeting here on Feb. 12 between H.E. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism, and Mr. Tassilo Brinzer, Chairman of EuroCham Cambodia, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

In the meeting, the Cambodian tourism minister laid stress on the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to strengthening public-private partnerships aiming to provide support and ensure development in all aspects, especially the tourism sector.

H.E. Sok Soken shared the ministry’s new initiative of “BUILD + 3Ds”, the key strategy to transform Cambodia into a leading and attractive tourism destination.

He also stressed the importance of reforming the role and functioning of the Cambodian Tourism Marketing and Promotion Board (CTB), which will favor extensive participation from the private sector and ensure effective public-private partnerships to jointly promote the attractiveness of Cambodia’s tourism destinations.

Responding to the concern, Mr. Tassilo Brinzer briefed the H.E. Minister on the main tasks of EuroCham Cambodia in supporting the country’s development by attracting companies and businessmen from European countries and around the world to invest in Cambodia’s priority sectors and the tourism industry.

Both sides expressed their joint commitment to promoting close and harmonious cooperation to foster the development of the Kingdom’s tourism industry into a competitive, sustainable, and inclusive tourism destination.

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The award was announced on Jan. 26 during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 held in Vientiane, Laos from Jan. 22 to 27 under the theme “Quality and Responsible ASEAN-Sustaining ASEAN Future” with the participation of the Tourism Ministers and Leaders from ASEAN member countries, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India and other partner countries and organizations.

The Cambodian delegation was led by H.E. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism.

According to ASEAN, the purpose of the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS) is to provide ASEAN member countries with a tool that will improve the quality of tourism in their cities, increase their marketing competitiveness, and also improve the situation of residents and their livelihood by alleviating poverty.

Held annually, the ASEAN Tourism Awards honors localities and units with high-quality tourism products and services at the ASEAN Tourism Forum with the ASEAN Tourism Standard Awards, including the ASEAN Green Hotel; ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award; ASEAN MICE Venue Award; and ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award (Gastronomy).

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