Chinese province to open flight route to Cambodia

The plan was announced during a talk on Monday between Tourism Minister Thong Khon and vice chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Political Consultative Committee, Zhang Zexi, who said investors from the Chinese province are also seeking to invest in tourism, especially serving ageing tourists.

Tourism connectivity established with the opening of a direct flight to Cambodia will attract more Chinese visitors from Zhejiang, Mr Zhang was quoted as saying in the ministry statement.

Mr Zhang did not disclose a particular province in the Kingdom that was of interest to investors, nor which destination to be connected to, as Cambodia is home to three international airports each located in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

Tourism Ministry spokesperson Top Sopheak noted that a number of Chinese airlines from different provinces already have direct flights to the three destinations in Cambodia. He said ageing tourists mostly take advantage of direct flights rather than going through a transit.

Mr Zhang said that there has been an increase in outbound traffic leaving Zhejiang, with 2.8 million tourists from the province travelling abroad last year, of which 80,000 had visited Cambodia.

“The number of tourists from the province visiting the Kingdom will further increase once the airway service launches and a relaxing place of tourism is developed,” he said.

Minister Khon noted that he introduced investors to coastal areas and areas situated along Mekong River, saying that these areas are favourable with their naturally gorgeous landscapes that would make tourists stay longer.