The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) of Cambodia and China Tourism Group Corporation Limited (CTG) have pledged to deepen tourism cooperation and host trade fairs aimed at attracting Chinese investors and tourists.
This agreement was formalized during the event, ‘Fostering Tourism Growth and Cultural Exchange between China and Cambodia,’ held in Hong Kong on Saturday. The event brought together Huot Hak, Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, and Wang Haimin, Chairman of CTG’s Board of Directors, to discuss collaborative initiatives and strategies.
According to a press release from the MoT issued yesterday, the event provided a platform for exchanging views and formulating plans to draw Chinese investment and tourists to Cambodia. Hak led a high-level delegation for this meeting, which included senior executives from CTG’s affiliated travel agencies overseeing strategy and enterprise management in the Hong Kong and Macau markets, as well as retail operations through China Duty Free Shops.
Discussions during the meeting centered on launching innovative cooperation initiatives, such as organizing tourism packages and enhancing tourist flow between Cambodia and China, particularly from Hong Kong, Macau, and neighboring regions, which together represent a population exceeding 23 million.
Collaborative Initiatives and Agreements
The two parties agreed on several key initiatives, including:
- Establishing a working group to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier.
- Organizing business matchmaking events and family trips.
- Bringing VIP tourists on chartered flights in 2025.
- Developing slogans for joint tourism campaigns.
- Promoting Cambodian products in China Duty Free Shops.
These agreements build on the MoU signed at the Cambodia-China Travel Fair in Siem Reap earlier this month, which focuses on enhancing tourism cooperation and arranging tour packages.
Hak emphasized the significance of China as one of Cambodia’s largest sources of international tourists. “This cooperation is vital to boosting the flow of tourists between Cambodia and China,” he noted. To further these efforts, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has declared 2025 the ‘Cambodia-China Tourism Year’ and tasked the Ministry of Tourism with collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia to ensure its success.
Increasing Tourist Numbers
Cambodia has already seen significant growth in Chinese tourist arrivals. According to an MoT report released on Monday, Cambodia welcomed 769,775 Chinese visitors between January and November 2024, marking a 54.5% increase from 498,250 during the same period in 2023.
Expanding Cooperation in Hong Kong
As part of the event, Hak and his delegation also met with Yos Sokhemrin, the Cambodian Consul General in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. They sought support in attracting Chinese and international investors to Cambodia and promoting the country’s tourism potential among Hong Kong residents and the international community in the region.
About China Tourism Group
CTG, a major state-owned enterprise in China with over 101 years of history, is headquartered in Hong Kong and employs 43,000 people across more than 600 subsidiaries. Its extensive network and expertise make it a key partner in boosting tourism cooperation between Cambodia and China.
The strengthened partnership underscores the mutual commitment to fostering economic and cultural exchanges between the two nations through tourism.
Source: Khmer Times
