Cambodia

From 13-15 Dec, the Air & Tech Show 2024 will take place at Pochentong Air Force Base in Phnom Penh, offering free admission and will feature various aircraft displays and technological competitions. The event will include robotics challenges, drone racing, and robot combat, showcasing the creative talents of Cambodian youth

The third phase of the ‘Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa)’ training programme was launched on 9 Dec, with a focus on ‘One Employee, One Skill,’ aimed at training 13,430 people across 12 provinces in Cambodia for tourism sector jobs. The programme targets young people aged 15-35 from disadvantaged backgrounds, with 50% of trainees being women. It also includes 890 participants (34% women) from training institutions to enhance their capacity in delivering vocational education and training (TVET)

During a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia in Phnom Penh on 9 Dec, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) sought support from China to integrate its cross-border payment system, enhancing convenience and offering more payment options to attract Chinese investors and tourists. The Ambassador expressed support for the integration of payment systems to boost trade and facilitate cross-border transactions

The Deputy Governor of Kep province said that the 12.65-kilometre Techo Santepheap Angkol Beach Boulevard, funded by a $10 million USD loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), brings great benefits to the area. According to him, it improves transport between urban and rural areas, boosts tourist arrivals, drives local economic development, and encourages locals to shift from fishing to tourism-related businesses. The Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that the road connects around 6,000 residents to markets, allowing them to sell their fish and goods directly to buyers

On 7 Dec, the 2-day Japan Travel Fair, organised by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) launched at AEON Mall Sen Sok in Cambodia. The event aims to promote Japanese culture and strengthen tourism ties between Cambodia and Japan. The Cambodian Prime Minister said that the event highlights the strong cooperation between the 2 countries and supports the enhanced strategic partnership established in 2023

The Lao PM made an official visit to Cambodia, where the two sides discussed further collaboration, including developing joint tourism models such as Luang Prabang-Champasak-Siem Reap and boosting connectivity like the Pake-Siem Reap flight route

The Cambodian Prime Minister and Lao Prime Minister encouraged the fast-tracking of a bridge project across the Tonle Ropou in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province and the Selampao River in Laos's Champasak province. The bridge is expected to enhance transport, trade, investment, tourism, and connectivity between the two countries and the Greater Mekong Subregion

The Investment Promotion Working Group for Preah Sihanouk at its 12th review meeting decided to provide incentives, worth $487 million USD for 48 new projects, under the programme initiated by the Prime Minister in Jan 2024. The projects include 16 stranded buildings, 28 new projects, and 4 expansions, covering areas like a special economic zone, aluminum manufacturing, and household appliances for export to Europe and the U.S. The programme aims to address unfinished constructions, particularly those left stranded by Chinese investors in Sihanoukville, providing exemptions on tax and administrative sanctions to promote investment

During a meeting involving Cambodia's Minister of Tourism and officials from Hong Kong and Macau's tourism sectors, over 30 travel agencies from Hong Kong and Macau, including China Southern Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines, expressed interest in exploring Cambodia as a tourist destination. The agencies expressed plans to explore Cambodia and develop new tour packages for their customers

From 3-4 Dec, the "GX Foundation Khmer Cuisine Charity Dinner" was held in Hong Kong, with the participation of officials from Hong Kong and Macau, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, business leaders, and more than 300 participants from airlines, cruise companies, and tourism operators across the region. The event showcased Khmer cuisine and Cambodia’s tourism while raising funds for charity, including health initiatives in Kampong Speu province. The Cambodian Prime Minister encouraged Chinese stakeholders to promote Cambodia’s tourism and investment opportunities, with support from the Cambodian tourism ministry. The president of the Cambodia Chinese Tour Guide Association said that Chinese tourists now tend to stay longer in Cambodia, typically 5-8 days, due to the reduction of direct flights between Cambodia and Chinese cities, with Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, and Phnom Penh being popular destinations

The Cambodian government-organised border visits, launched on 22 Aug and runs from Sep-Dec 2024, attracted over 2,000 citizens up to date. According to the Information Ministry spokesperson, over 4,000 additional people have registered for upcoming tours. A Government spokesperson said that the tours dispel opposition-driven misinformation about territorial concessions to Vietnam. He added that participants reported complete satisfaction with the program

The President of the Cambodian Tourism Association proposed incorporating Bokator martial arts demonstrations into tourism packages to attract visitors. She suggested performances at popular tourist destinations, entertainment venues, and food outlets, highlighting the potential for local communities to earn income from martial arts performances. The founder of the Cambodia Bokator Federation and Academy supports the initiative and emphasises the need for sponsorship to enhance performances

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Cambodia Travel Match (CTM) 2024 will be held in Kampot from 14-15 Dec, alongside the 11th Sea Festival. The event facilitates B2B matchmaking and long-term partnerships through a 15-minute pre-scheduled meeting format. The Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association said that the event is expected to welcome 100 Cambodian sellers, with 12 from Indonesia, 15 from India, 10 from Vietnam, 25 from Thailand, and others from Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Russia, and China have confirmed their participation. From 13-15 Dec, the Sea Festival 2024 will also be held in Kampot province, with activities including live concerts, fireworks, sports competitions, exhibitions, and food festivals

During the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Paraguay, the Cambodian scarf, known as the krama, was inscribed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Senate President expressed national pride and praised this accomplishment as a reflection of Cambodia's dedication to cultural preservation

The Siem Reap Provincial Administration and the Department of Culture and Fine Arts planned to organise the upcoming Kleng Ek Festival in Siem Reap, from 27-29 Dec 2024. According to an official of the Siem Reap Provincial Administration, activities will include kite-flying ceremonies, evening artistic performances, and exhibitions showcasing the process and cultural significance of Kleng Ek

On 2 Dec, the ASEAN-Korea Centre, in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism held a seminar on the use of technologies and best practices to enhance the tourism industry. Key outcomes included strategies to boost Cambodia's global tourism competitiveness, evaluation of sector development policies, and identification of growth pathways. The ASEAN-Korea Centre plans to launch bilateral ASEAN-Korea Quality Tourism Development Towards Sustainability projects with all 10 ASEAN nations over the next 3 years to promote sustainable and inclusive growth

During a meeting between the Cambodian Prime Minister and Laos Prime Minister on 4 Dec, the 2 countries signed 3 bilateral agreements on the elimination of double taxation, agriculture cooperation, and cultural exchange. They discussed establishing a new border checkpoint between Ratanakiri province and Attapeu province to boost trade, tourism, transportation, and agreed to explore increasing direct flights

The 6th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting was held in Yangon, chaired by Laos’ Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism. It looked at ACMECS cooperation, and agreed to actively promote “Five countries, one destination”, as well as prioritise digitalisation

According to the Ministry of Tourism, from Jan-Oct 2024, Cambodia welcomed 5.37 million international visitors, +22% YoY. Top markets include Thailand with 1.72 million visitors (+14.9% YoY), Vietnam with 1.08 million visitors (+31.6% YoY), and China with 691,736 visitors (+52.5% YoY). Around 1.9 million foreign tourists, 35.5% of total arrivals, traveled to Cambodia by air, +27% YoY

From Jan-Nov 2024, the Angkor Archaeological Park welcomed 898,336 foreign tourists, +28.3% YoY. According to a report by Angkor Enterprise, ticket sales from the park generated nearly $42 million USD, +28.7% YoY. Tourists from the U.S. led with 92,841 visitors (+10.33% YoY), followed by the UK with 77,446 visitors (+8.62% YoY). Other key markets included France, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, and India. In Nov 2024, the park welcomed 124,136 foreign tourists and earned nearly $6 million USD, +26.9% YoY and 27.4% YoY, respectively

The Prime Minister visited the Kampong Phluk Ecotourism Community after the 29th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon, inspected the living conditions of residents and interacted with community members, including tourist boat operators. He pledged improvements to boost tourism in Kampong Phluk, including an 8-kilometre paved road, a tourist ticketing booth, and more trash bins

Cambodia ranked 159th out of 180 countries on the Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2024, scoring 49 out of 100. The NCI highlighted that Cambodia and other Asian nations face severe biodiversity threats from deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, urbanisation, and industrial growth, which damage habitats and accelerate environmental degradation

During King Sihamoni’s official state visit to Vietnam from 28-29 Nov 2024, Vietnam's Prime Minister pledged to support Cambodia in hosting the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026, sharing expertise and experiences to ensure the event's success. The Prime Minister proposed establishing a Vietnamese language centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh to foster cultural and linguistic exchanges. He also urged Cambodia to address challenges faced by ethnic Vietnamese communities, emphasising their role as a bridge for bilateral friendship

The Minister of Tourism met with Visa's Regional President for Asia Pacific and colleagues on 28 Nov. The minister appreciated Visa's past contributions to promoting Cambodian tourism, and highlighted the leadership of the Prime Minister and the continuation of the win-win policy by the President of the Senate

According to a press release by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Cambodia committed to advance key collaborative projects including the Fish and Rice Corridor, the Industrial Development Corridor, the Modern Agricultural Development Project, and Mixed Energy Project. Both sides aim to restore Chinese visitor arrivals to pre-pandemic levels by enhancing direct flights and improving tourism infrastructure

6 months after resuming its daily flights between Phnom Penh and Dubai (via Singapore) in May 2024, Emirates has carried around 19,000 passengers and transported over 3,000,000 kg of cargo. The airline’s top 5 destinations from Cambodia include Dubai, Singapore, France, Switzerland, and the UK. Emirates' country manager for Cambodia said that passenger demand is growing steadily, including on the Singapore-bound leg, enhancing Phnom Penh's position as a travel hub. A new travel shop will open in central Phnom Penh by 2025 to improve service access

On 26 Nov, the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and the Executive Director of Bendigo Kangan Institute led discussions on technical training in vehicle services, particularly electric vehicles (EVs), aiming to align Cambodian automotive workforce skills with international standards. The Ministry also hosted a workshop on Public-Private Partnerships in TVET, aiming to strengthen partnerships among public and private sectors and development partners, with key topics include sustainable skills development, enhancing workforce accreditation testing and lifelong training opportunities

The Prime Minister urged stakeholders to reassess land-use conditions and zoning in the Angkor Archaeological Park, to balance residential needs with the preservation of heritage sites, and ensure that land management aligns with urban planning and construction principles. This arose due to longstanding disputes between local residents and the Apsara National Authority (ANA) over land for housing in the park. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Land Management, Ministry of Culture, and architectural teams to create plans for 114 villages in the park. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Land Management said that the Ministry is clarifying land ownership for state and private lands, while developing and finalizing land-use conditions for the villages

The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, have been directed to prepare architectural guidelines for the Angkor Archaeological Park, with an aim to ensure construction within the 400-square-kilometer area aligns with Khmer architectural style. The Prime Minister said that non-traditional styles can only be implemented outside the heritage zone. The guidelines will define the architectural style for villages in the Angkor area for the next 50 years, with input from the Board of Architects and the Board of Engineers, focusing on exterior designs

Thailand and Cambodia will restart bus services between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, and Bangkok and Siem Reap, on 29 Nov, marking the first operation since services were halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. The services are jointly managed by Thailand's Transport Co and Cambodia's Vireak Buntham Express Co

Thailand’s Transport Co. and Cambodia’s Vireak Buntham Express Co. have signed an agreement to resume cross-border bus services connecting Bangkok with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from 29 Nov, after a 3-year hiatus

The Prime Minister dismissed reports by international media about funding issues for the Funan Techo Canal (FTC) project, stating that Cambodia's government had a solid plan with backup partners prepared to step in if needed. He added that the government is prioritising proper implementation procedures, and ensuring responsible construction. The Ministry of Public Works and Transports (MPWT) denied claims of financial issues, stating that research and assessments are ongoing with active implementation of the project. A policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) believed that the Cambodian government has the resources to fully finance this $1.7 billion USD project independently

The 29th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon will take place on 1 Dec, with 14,000 runners registered, surpassing the previous high of 12,000 in 2019. The increase in participants is attributed to government efforts to promote Siem Reap and the Prime Minister’s involvement. Registration fees will fund prosthetic limbs, social reintegration programs, education, rehabilitative medicine, and support for underprivileged children

Despite the groundbreaking of the Funan Techo Canal Megaproject in Aug 2024, no definitive commitments from China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) were made on its funding, and Beijing expressed concerns about the project. The Cambodian Prime Minister said that CRBC will share 49% of the funding. Experts raised concerns over the canal's environmental impact and financial feasibility. The groundbreaking site on the Mekong remains unused 3 months after the ceremony. Chinese official development assistance was projected to drop to $35 million USD in 2026, down from over $420 million USD in 2021, with China pulling out of other major projects, such as Phnom Penh’s new airport. Uncertainty over costs, environmental impacts, and China's reduced involvement deterred investors

An economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia said that tourist spend during the Water Festival extended beyond the 3-day festival, with many visitors staying in Phnom Penh for up to a week. He added that tourists spend about $25 USD per day, the total cash flow from the 3-day festival ranged between $600 and $700 million USD. The President of the Angkor Tourist Guides Association noted that foreign tourists typically spent $40 USD per day on food, transportation, and souvenirs. He added that tourist spending on travel, accommodations, and temple visits boosted small businesses and provided tour guides with jobs, earning about $30 USD daily

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia will participate in the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 in Johor, Malaysia, from 19–25 Jan 2025. During the forum, the ministry will also take part in the ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), which features around 200 booths showcasing tourism products from tour operators, agencies, travel and accommodation services, and other stakeholders from ASEAN countries. The ministry encouraged stakeholders to support and join TRAVEX to draw more regional and international visitors to Cambodia

On 18 Nov, the CEO of the Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB), visited the headquarters of the National Association of Travel Agents of Singapore (NATAS) to explore collaboration opportunities in tour arrangements, partnerships with major Singaporean travel agencies, and experience exchanges. As of Sep 2024, around 31,176 Singaporean tourists visited Cambodia. The CTB plans to participate in the NATAS travel exhibition from 28 Feb to 2 Mar, 2025

On 19 Nov, a large cruise ship docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, carrying 2,641 individuals on board, including 1,865 tourists from 43 nationalities, and 776 crew members. The ship arrived from Vietnam and is set to travel to Thailand next

On 14 Nov, the Tourism Minister urged Shanxi Province's Foreign Affairs Head to attract investors and tourists to Cambodia. He also encouraged Cambodian and Shanxi businesses to collaborate on tourism marketing and industry development

According to a report by the Ministry of Tourism on the Water Festival from 14-16 Nov: - Over 7.75 million tourists attended the festival in various venues across the country, +21% YoY, including 89,000 foreign tourists - Phnom Penh saw 6.23 million visitors, +22% YoY - Siem Reap attracted 335,000 tourists, and Preah Sihanouk attracted 303,000

On 15 Nov - the second day of the Water Festival, 1,700 foreign visitors attended the tourism pavilion in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, higher than the first day. The Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism anticipated increase in foreign attendance on the final day of the festival

99,279 people visited Kep during the Royal Water Festival, +7.02% YoY. 134,622 tourists visited Kampot province for the same event, +59.82% YoY

On the first 2 days of the Water Festival (14-15 Nov), 4,299,968 visitors came to the Water Festival, +16.5% YoY, including 59,949 international ones, +32.1% YoY. According to the Tourism Statistics Department: - Phnom Penh attracted over 3.3 million visitors - Coastal areas, including Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong attracted 337,771 visitors - Cultural areas, including Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap attracted 291,343 visitors - The Battambang area, including Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pailin, and Pursat attracted 223,623 visitors - Eco-tourism areas, including Kratie, Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri, and Stung Treng attracted 54,257 visitors

According to the Siem Reap Province Tourism Department, 278,982 visitors attended the Water Festival in Siem Reap from 14-15 Nov, +13.01% YoY, including 8,982 international tourists, +30.80% YoY, and around 270,000 domestic tourists, +12.50% YoY. On the second day of the festival, nearly 200,000 tourists participated, +15.36% YoY

On the first day of the Water Festival, 1,650 international tourists enjoyed events from the tourism pavilion near the Royal Palace, drawing people from across Cambodia to Phnom Penh. Visitors received free refreshments, brochures in multiple languages, and assistance from tour guides

Luxury Business Group (LBG), MAD, and Peninsula Bay Investment Co. are leading the Peninsula Bay Project in Sihanoukville, which spans around 160,000 sqm, with a construction area of 980,000 sqm, focusing on a retail and hospitality strategy to attract international brands and affluent visitors. Key facilities include 5-star hotels, a casino, a retail and shopping mall, and serviced apartments

On 14 Nov, Cambodian Minister of Tourism met with the Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Province to discuss tourism cooperation. The Minister urged Chinese investors, particularly from Shanxi, to invest in Cambodia's tourism sector, and collaborate with Cambodian enterprises via the Ministry of Tourism to promote Cambodia as a destination and increase visits from Shanxi province