Cambodia and China Set on Cooperating to Boost Tourism in Both Countries
The agreement was made on Feb. 3 by Thong Rathasak, director general of Tourism Development and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism, and Shi Zeyi, director general of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2023 in Indonesia. Photo: Ministry of Tourism
- By Meng Seavmey
- February 4, 2023 2:15 PM
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia and China have agreed to put together a detailed action plan complete with tourism promotion and direct flights to boost the tourism flow between the two countries.
The agreement was made on Feb. 3 by Thong Rathasak, director general of Tourism Development and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism, and Shi Zeyi, director general of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2023 in Indonesia.
According to a message posted on Feb. 3 on the Facebook page of Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the two countries have agreed to prepare several tourism destination promotions, including arranging a joint art performance to promote the destinations among people of both countries as well as to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Cambodia-China diplomatic relations.
Among strategies to boost tourism, both countries agreed to urge for more direct flights from China to the three airports in Cambodia, and to prepare a familiarization trip for the private and media sectors, the Facebook message read.
To encourage the development of human resources in the tourism sector, the two countries support the implementation of “White Paper on China Ready for Cambodia Tourism” and establishing a center to support this China Ready program.
Lastly, Cambodia and China are to urge the preparation of tourism business forums in both countries.
Cambodia and China have had a strong, close friendship, Rathasak said on Feb. 3 in a speech during the forum according to the message on the ministry’s Facebook page. China has always helped Cambodia’s development, he said.
Among other programs, China has assisted the tourism sector by building the new Siem Reap airport, Morodok Techo National Stadium, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, and has helped develop human resources in the sector, Rathasak said.
In response, Shi Zeyi praised Cambodia for always maintaining strong cooperation with China, and especially by paying attention to and welcoming Chinese tourists to Cambodia.
Thong Rathasak and Shi Zeyi agreed to prepare a detailed action plan for tourism cooperation between China and Cambodia for 2023-2028.
According to the message of the Ministry of Tourism on Facebook, this action plan, which will be in line with the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation signed by the two countries in 2016, could be signed during any upcoming tourism event.
