PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's tourism industry is setting sail for new horizons, on May 27, 2024, H.E. Chuk Chumnor, Director General of Tourism Development and International Cooperation, led a meeting with a delegation from Silversea Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group, the world's second-largest cruise line. This high-profile meeting signals Silversea's growing interest in including Cambodia as a stop on their popular cruise itineraries.

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.