Cambodia targets 5.4 m tourists

PHNOM PENH Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen projects the country could welcome as many as 5.4 million international tourists this year.

Agence Kampuchea Presses quoted the PM saying Cambodia saying he was confidence the country could attract up to 5.4 million foreign arrivals in 2017. He called it a positive target that is achievable as long as the country remains stable.

Visits could reach 7 million by 2020, earning an estimated revenue of around USD5 billion and generating some 1 million direct jobs.

The PM also called for the establishment of green belt areas near main tourism sites, explaining that the areas could be used to produce vegetables, fruits and meat domestically to supply hotels and restaurants at tourist destinations.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon added that to boost the country’s tourism industry, a seven-step plan would be adopted to improve standards. The core points focus on professional management of business licences and strengthening revenue collection.

Other objectives cited by the minister included: Improve the quality of tourism services and strengthen management and standards, especially in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.

There are also plans to issue individual QR codes to tourist guides to better assess and guarantee the quality of their services.

Last year, the country welcomed 5.1 million visits increasing 5% from 4.77 million in 2015. Overall, tourism revenue declined from USD3.5 billion in 2015, to USD3 billion, or 13% of GDP in 2016.

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