Cambodia signs China agreement

PHNOM PENH Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and China’s Shanghai Spring International Travel Service (Group) (SSITS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Strategic Development Cooperation to promote Cambodia’s tourism.

Agence Kampuchea Presse quoted Tourism Minister, Thong Khon, saying the MoU focuses mainly on building cooperation and strategic partnership between the tourism ministry and  SSITS.

“The agreement aims to boost more flights from different areas in China to Cambodia and tour guide training, as well as to enhance Cambodian tourism promotion and tourism product development at key tourism destinations in Cambodia.”

The MoU will become an effective tool to promote cooperation between Cambodia and China, especially with Chinese investors in Cambodia’s tourism sector, he added.

Since 1999, China has been the biggest investor in the tourism sector in Cambodia spending USD25 billion on projects, the minister cited.

According to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), China invested in tourism resorts, hotels, duty-free outlets and theatres.

The total investment reached USD78 million and USD822 million in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

There are currently eight airlines operating direct flights from China to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, out of 31 airline serving Cambodia, the report said.

Cambodia has already issued a strategic plan to attract Chinese visitors through the launch of the White Paper called China Ready for Cambodia Tourism. The country aims to welcome 2 million Chinese tourists by 2020.

For the first eight months of this year, 514,418 Chinese travellers visited Cambodia up 11.5% from 461,518 visits during the same period last year.