Reports circulated primarily by several Thai news media outlets claiming that Chinese online travel giant Trip.com has suspended its cooperation agreement with Cambodia have been firmly dismissed by tourism industry insiders as unfounded and misleading.
The reports, which began appearing on Thai media websites since Wednesday, alleged that Trip.com had halted its partnership with the Cambodia Tourism Authority (CTA) following concerns raised by Chinese and Thai users over potential misuse or leakage of personal data.
However, Cambodian tourism industry experts say there is no evidence to support these claims and suggest the reports may be driven by ulterior motives aimed at undermining Cambodia’s growing tourism sector.
The CTA has recently signed cooperation agreements with several leading Chinese online travel agencies, including Trip.com, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen tourism ties with China.
These partnerships have coincided with a noticeable influx of Chinese social media influencers, travel bloggers, and tourism professionals visiting Cambodia to explore and promote the Kingdom’s prime destinations and offerings.
Industry observers believe the timing and nature of the reports raise serious questions about their intent. According to insiders, the spread of false information appears designed to discourage Chinese tourists from choosing Cambodia as a destination at a time when the country is experiencing renewed growth in arrivals from China.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), strongly condemned what she described as the deliberate generation and circulation of malicious rumours surrounding Cambodia’s partnership with Trip.com Group.
“Let me be clear: there has been no official communication or legitimate news from Trip.com Group headquarters, nor from any reputable global news source, confirming a cancellation of our memorandum of understanding,” she said.
“We recognise this for exactly what it is – a dirty tactic and a piece of deliberate propaganda being fueled by regional actors amidst the current border chaos.”
Sivlin warned that misinformation is often used as a tool during periods of heightened tension to damage economic stability and erode public confidence. “This narrative is a calculated political move intended to make Cambodia appear isolated and to force our people to lose trust in our international allies,” she added.
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