[Text/Observer Network Wang Yong Editor Zhao Qiankun]
On the evening of April 17, China and Cambodia announced 2025 as the "China-Cambodia Tourism Year". Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said that he would strengthen exchanges in education, culture and other fields to make the "China-Cambodia Tourism Year" a success.
"The growth of Chinese tourists brings important opportunities for Cambodia."
According to a report by Cambodia's Khmer Times on April 17, a report from the Ministry of Tourism showed that in the first two months of 2025, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Cambodia increased by 67.6% year-on-year, with nearly 190,000 visits.
Sok Darith, State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Spokesperson, said that thanks to close cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Cambodia, Cambodia's tourism industry has developed steadily. Cambodia expects to attract more than one million Chinese tourists in 2025.
Visitors to Angkor Wat, Khmer Times
Hu Hua, Minister of Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, said, "Our country is a peaceful and safe place for Chinese tourists and investors alike. We hope to see more direct flights to Cambodia. When I travel to China, I always encourage my Chinese friends and partners to visit Cambodia."
Hu Hua described Cambodia-China relations as "ironclad friends" and "comprehensive strategic partners," noting that cooperation in the tourism sector will further promote the establishment of a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future.
Hu Hua stated that the increase in Chinese tourists presents important opportunities for Cambodia, not only promoting the development of its tourism industry but also creating new investment opportunities in other local sectors. "We firmly believe that thanks to the close relationship between Cambodia and China and our rich tourism resources, we expect a large number of Chinese tourists to visit Cambodia in 2025. Cambodia will also provide rich tourism experiences, including cultural and heritage tourism, natural wonders, and ecotourism."
Cambodia's Phnom Penh Post reported that Cambodia boasts world-famous sites such as Angkor Wat, the "world's most beautiful coastline," Southeast Asia's largest mangrove forests, magnificent views along the Mekong River, and biodiversity-rich Tonle Sap Lake. Its cultural traditions, customs, and authentic cuisine are also very rich.
Hu Hua said, "The Cambodian people warmly welcome Chinese friends. The Cambodian government attaches great importance to the safety of tourists and is fully prepared to welcome visitors from all over China to further deepen the friendship between the peoples of Cambodia and China."
A series of activities have ignited enthusiasm for mutual visits between the two peoples.
In an article titled "Building a Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future: A Brilliant Chapter in 'Diamond Six-Sided' Cooperation" published in the Cambodian Chinese Daily in early April, Sok Mingkuang, State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Chairman of the Cambodia Industry Innovation and Development Committee, pointed out that since the launch of the "Cambodia-China Cultural Exchange Year" activities on January 13, 2024, fruitful results have been achieved in cultural exchanges between China and Cambodia. Many cultural institutions, art groups, and civilian organizations actively participated in a series of colorful cultural activities organized by both countries' Ministries of Culture and Tourism. These activities have deepened the friendship between the two peoples, promoted civilizational dialogue and integration, and laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of China-Cambodia cultural and tourism undertakings.
Night view of Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh Post
In the article, Sok Mingkuang stated that tourism cooperation is an important component of the "Cambodia-China Cultural Exchange Year," playing a crucial role in promoting mutual visits between the two peoples. In this year, both sides actively promoted tourism resources, showcasing their respective abundant tourism resources through tourism exhibitions and promotional materials. Famous attractions such as Angkor Wat and the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh in Cambodia attracted many Chinese tourists, while historical and cultural relics like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in China left Cambodian tourists enchanted.
The article emphasized that the number of mutual visits between Chinese and Cambodian tourists has significantly increased, injecting new vitality into the development of the tourism industry in both countries. Tourism cooperation not only drives economic development in both countries, creating more job opportunities, but also allows the two peoples to gain a deeper understanding of each other's cultures and lifestyles during their travels, enhancing mutual affection. It has become an important way to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.
The article mentioned that with increasing exchanges between China and Cambodia in trade, culture, and other fields, there is an urgent need for efficient and convenient transportation methods. The resumption of the "Air Silk Road" route between Zhengzhou, Henan Province, Cambodia, and ASEAN earlier this year has built an air bridge between the two places. This route has a clear strategic positioning; it is not only an air corridor connecting Henan and Cambodia but also an important link for Henan to integrate into the ASEAN market and strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries. At the same time, it has attracted more Henan tourists to travel to Cambodia and ASEAN, allowing Cambodian and ASEAN tourists to experience Henan's history, culture, and natural scenery. Frequent personnel exchanges have enhanced mutual understanding and friendship, injecting strong momentum into regional economic integration.
The article concluded that the cooperation achievements of the "Cambodia-China Cultural Exchange Year" have far-reaching impacts, especially in promoting China-Cambodia cultural and tourism cooperation and cultural heritage protection. A series of activities have attracted significant attention from tourists, stimulating the enthusiasm of the two peoples for tourism and promoting the development of the tourism market in both countries. Many Cambodians expressed their hope to travel to China, while Chinese tourists have shown great interest in Angkor's ancient ruins in Cambodia.
Of critical importance to enhancing Cambodia's international image
According to a report by the Khmer Times, the Ministry of Tourism recently released an announcement stating that the 2025 "Cambodia-China Tourism Year" plays a key role in promoting China-Cambodia tourism cooperation and enhancing Cambodia's international image. It will comprehensively showcase Cambodia's rich artistic and cultural resources and tourism potential to the international market, particularly the Chinese market. The Ministry of Tourism called on travel agencies, private sectors, domestic and foreign media, relevant institutions, and the public to actively participate in promoting the event.
A Cambodian sociologist told the Khmer Times that the "Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025" will attract more Chinese tourists by showcasing Cambodia's tourism potential. However, the government still needs to improve the tourism reception system, especially increasing direct flights from China and expanding flight routes to targeted provinces. This sociologist particularly pointed out that the growth in the number of Chinese tourists will lead to increased job opportunities, upgraded tourism services, and improved infrastructure, ultimately raising the living standards of the population and driving sustained economic development. Relevant departments must crack down hard on criminal activities such as online fraud and gambling that damage Cambodia's national image and eliminate tourists' safety concerns.
Sok Darith said, "We have implemented special measures to promote Cambodia's image as a safe, warm, clean, and green tourist destination."
Sok Darith noted that under the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Cambodia and China, tourism has become an important pillar of cooperation between the two countries. "As the world's largest tourism market, China has long been Cambodia's most important source of tourists. We will take advantage of the 'Cambodia-China Tourism Year' to introduce a series of measures through close cooperation between the two countries and Cambodia's rich tourism resources, including promoting diversification of tourism products to attract more Chinese tourists."
Tourism industry insiders in Siem Reap, Cambodia, expressed optimism about attracting Chinese tourists. "The number of Chinese tourists traveling to Cambodia in 2025 is expected to show a continuous and significant increase. With the joint efforts of the government, the private sector, and the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, we can look forward to more Chinese tourists coming."
The Phnom Penh Post reported that tourism is one of Cambodia's four major economic pillars. Since last year, in order to attract foreign tourists and promote the sustainable development of tourism, Cambodia has continuously improved tourism infrastructure construction and introduced a series of facilitation service measures.
The report mentioned that especially infrastructure projects helped by Chinese enterprises, such as the National Stadium of Cambodia, the Golden Port Highway, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and the Dechong International Airport currently under construction, have played a huge role in promoting Cambodia's socio-economic development. These projects will undoubtedly become exemplary cases of China-Cambodia tourism infrastructure cooperation. Currently, Cambodia is focusing on improving the tourism safety system and service standards to ensure that Chinese tourists receive quality experiences. "The 'Cambodia-China Tourism Year' will not only push bilateral cultural exchanges to new heights but also inject new momentum into Cambodia's overall social and economic development through the 'multiplier effect' of tourism."
According to data provided by Tongcheng Travel to the Observer Network, in the first quarter of this year, the demand for vacation travel to ASEAN destinations from mainland China residents continued to grow steadily. Among them, the booking热度for tickets to Cambodia increased by nearly 90% year-on-year. Meanwhile, business travel demand grew rapidly. Data from Tongcheng Business Travel, a subsidiary of Tongcheng Travel, showed that the business travel enthusiasm of mainland Chinese companies to ASEAN countries including Cambodia increased by more than 110% year-on-year in the first quarter.
The Phnom Penh Post reported that the future of Cambodia's tourism industry is closely linked to the growth of Chinese tourists and investors. In 2024, nearly 3,000 Chinese companies registered with the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia, a 20.65% increase compared to 2023. This growth was attributed to bilateral discussions at the government level.
The Cambodia-China Business Association stated that the firm friendship between the two governments plays a crucial role in attracting Chinese tourists and investors. Chinese companies investing in Cambodia cover almost all industries, including construction, real estate, tourism, agriculture, industry, energy, etc. It is expected that this trend of tourism and investment growth will continue in the coming years.
This article is an exclusive contribution from the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494587922230886939/
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