Cambodia

The Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) will organise the "Celebrate Cambodia" New Year’s Eve event on 31 Dec 2024 in the park in front of the Royal Palace. Highlights include decorations featuring designs by both ancient and contemporary art, and the Cambodia Pride Parade with around 3,000 participants

According to the Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, the Techo International Airport’s launch was rescheduled to Jul 2025, delayed from its earlier plan for the first semester of the year. He said that the airport is now 92% complete as of Dec 2024, with the remaining 8% including construction, staff training, and air certification, which will be completed by Mar 2025

On 19 Dec, the cruise ship called “Aida Stella” docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, bringing 2,757 passengers, including 2,126 international tourists from 36 nationalities (majority from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria), and 631 crew members. The cruise ship arrived from Vietnam, and scheduled to continue to Thailand after leaving Cambodia

The 11th Sea Festival in Kampot province attracted nearly 400,000 visitors, a 50% increase from the 2023 festival in Kep, including 385,553 domestic tourists, +44.7% YoY, and 3,615 international tourists, +107.4% YoY

The Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap and Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh received the Green Globe Certification for their efficient resource management, community programmes, environmental initiatives, and best practices. Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor introduced a new fleet of eco-friendly electric tuk-tuks to provide sustainable transportation for guests, while Raffles Hotel Le Royal offers bicycles and provides a self-guided walking tour map to help guests explore local attractions

According to the findings released by the Ministry of Planning on the general population census: - The country’s population reached 17,280,543 people, with an annual growth rate of 2.1% - The average life expectancy is 76.6 years, with men and women reaching 74.7 and 78.4 years respectively - 41.5% of the population now lives in urban areas - Phnom Penh is home to 2,352,851 residents, 13.6% of the national population - The central plains region has 8,646,203 people, making it the most populated region at 50.3% of the total population

Cambodia Airways will commence direct flights to Muan, South Korea on 29 Dec from Phnom Penh, and on 2 Jan 2025 from Siem Reap

According to a report by the Ministry of Tourism, from Jan-Nov 2024, 400,000 international Muslim tourists visited Cambodia, +23% YoY. During the Cambodia Muslim Tourism Forum 2024 held on 18 Dec at Phnom Penh Hotel, the Minister of Tourism shared 5 strategies to attract Muslim tourists, including: - Improve the quality of Muslim-friendly services and products - Build infrastructure to support Muslim tourism - Promote Cambodia to international Muslim markets - Strengthen cooperation with stakeholders - Train staff and raise awareness of Muslim tourists’ needs

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport reported that 55% of boundary marking for phase 1 of the Funan Techo Canal was completed after 5 days. The Ministry Spokesman said that the technical team of the project went through the training on using DGPS-RTK technology for precise land boundaries and coordinates. The project aims to reduce transport costs and travel time, generate over 10,000 jobs, and minimise greenhouse gas emissions. The project is expected to have an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 20-31%, surpassing the 12% benchmark set by national and international standards

On 15 Dec, a Chinese troupe from Wuxi City in Jiangsu Province, and Cambodian artists from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts co-organised a show called “Golden Promise 2024” at the Chaktomuk Theater in Phnom Penh. The event celebrates the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year 2024, and was attended by hundreds of spectators. The show featured performances by Chinese and Cambodian artists

On 16 Dec, the Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, Worldbridge Group, and Trip.com Group worked on an MoU to boost the sales of Cambodian tourism packages in the Chinese and other international markets, aiming to attract quality tourists who are long-staying, and high-spending. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Worldbridge Group said that partnership with Trip.com Group could help mobilise profits and increase Cambodia’s visibility in key international markets

On 15 Dec, the soft opening of Shangri-La Phnom Penh was held with nearly 100 participants, including tourism leaders and senior officials

During a meeting with Cambodia’s Minister for Cults and Religion, Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation proposed establishing a direct flight from Cambodia to Bhairahawa, Nepal. The ministers discussed creating a Buddhist circuit by connecting major Buddhist destinations in both countries, youth engagement and educational exchanges to deepen cultural ties and goodwill

Cambodia welcomed 6 million international tourists from Jan-Nov 2024, +22% YoY. The Ministry of Tourism forecasts that it will receive 6.7 million for the full year 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels

Starting 12 Dec, international tourists can purchase Angkor entry tickets through automated machines at The Heritage Walk, located on basement level 1

The Minister of Tourism, launched the "One Tourist, One Tree" campaign, as part of the 11th Sea Festival in Kampot, to promote green tourism, urging the participation of people, civil servants, and stakeholders. The tree planting activity aims to beautify a key road linking the provincial hall to a new beach currently being developed

On 18 Dec, the Cambodian Muslim Tourism group under the Ministry of Tourism will host the Cambodia Muslim Friendly Tourism Forum at the Phnom Penh Hotel, discussing both successes and challenges in promoting Muslim-friendly tourism in Cambodia. The Deputy Director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam) said that the forum offers a chance to learn from experts in Malaysia and Thailand, who have successfully incorporated Muslim-friendly tourism into their economies

Preah Sihanouk province's tourism was boosted by new attractions at Meas and Prak beaches, expected to encourage longer stays. YEEJIA Tourism Development Company improved beaches, has developed Koh Sampoch and nearby islands, and introduced accommodations, dining, and entertainment options. On 12 Dec, the company celebrated the completion of a grand gate, over 130 km of paved roads, and new infrastructure

According to the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Kampot International Tourist Port temporarily opened on 12 Dec for a 3-month trial operation, coinciding with the 11th Sea Festival

From 13-15 Dec, the Air & Tech Show 2024 will take place at Pochentong Air Force Base in Phnom Penh, offering free admission and will feature various aircraft displays and technological competitions. The event will include robotics challenges, drone racing, and robot combat, showcasing the creative talents of Cambodian youth

The third phase of the ‘Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa)’ training programme was launched on 9 Dec, with a focus on ‘One Employee, One Skill,’ aimed at training 13,430 people across 12 provinces in Cambodia for tourism sector jobs. The programme targets young people aged 15-35 from disadvantaged backgrounds, with 50% of trainees being women. It also includes 890 participants (34% women) from training institutions to enhance their capacity in delivering vocational education and training (TVET)

During a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia in Phnom Penh on 9 Dec, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) sought support from China to integrate its cross-border payment system, enhancing convenience and offering more payment options to attract Chinese investors and tourists. The Ambassador expressed support for the integration of payment systems to boost trade and facilitate cross-border transactions

The Deputy Governor of Kep province said that the 12.65-kilometre Techo Santepheap Angkol Beach Boulevard, funded by a $10 million USD loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), brings great benefits to the area. According to him, it improves transport between urban and rural areas, boosts tourist arrivals, drives local economic development, and encourages locals to shift from fishing to tourism-related businesses. The Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that the road connects around 6,000 residents to markets, allowing them to sell their fish and goods directly to buyers

On 8 Dec, the Tourism Minister met the Chairman of the Maiku Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discuss applying Big Data and AI to enhance Cambodia's tourism industry. Maiku, based in Heilongjiang, provides the “Tourism One-Map”, which integrates AI, Big Data, and satellite imagery, tracking tourist spending and locations while providing real-time updates on hotel room availability. The Tourism Minister stated that Cambodia is exploring smart technology to manage the tourism sector, including tracking operational costs, drafting business plans, and developing strategies and policies

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Cambodia projected Cambodia’s economy to grow by 6% in 2024, with a slight increase to 6.3% in 2025. He said that growth will be primarily driven by export-oriented sectors, including the garment industry, automotive assembly, and food and beverage production. Accommodation and other supporting sectors within tourism are expected to maintain an upward trend, approaching pre-pandemic levels

On 7 Dec, the 2-day Japan Travel Fair, organised by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) launched at AEON Mall Sen Sok in Cambodia. The event aims to promote Japanese culture and strengthen tourism ties between Cambodia and Japan. The Cambodian Prime Minister said that the event highlights the strong cooperation between the 2 countries and supports the enhanced strategic partnership established in 2023

The Lao PM made an official visit to Cambodia, where the two sides discussed further collaboration, including developing joint tourism models such as Luang Prabang-Champasak-Siem Reap and boosting connectivity like the Pake-Siem Reap flight route

The Cambodian Prime Minister and Lao Prime Minister encouraged the fast-tracking of a bridge project across the Tonle Ropou in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province and the Selampao River in Laos's Champasak province. The bridge is expected to enhance transport, trade, investment, tourism, and connectivity between the two countries and the Greater Mekong Subregion

The Investment Promotion Working Group for Preah Sihanouk at its 12th review meeting decided to provide incentives, worth $487 million USD for 48 new projects, under the programme initiated by the Prime Minister in Jan 2024. The projects include 16 stranded buildings, 28 new projects, and 4 expansions, covering areas like a special economic zone, aluminum manufacturing, and household appliances for export to Europe and the U.S. The programme aims to address unfinished constructions, particularly those left stranded by Chinese investors in Sihanoukville, providing exemptions on tax and administrative sanctions to promote investment

During a meeting involving Cambodia's Minister of Tourism and officials from Hong Kong and Macau's tourism sectors, over 30 travel agencies from Hong Kong and Macau, including China Southern Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines, expressed interest in exploring Cambodia as a tourist destination. The agencies expressed plans to explore Cambodia and develop new tour packages for their customers

From 3-4 Dec, the "GX Foundation Khmer Cuisine Charity Dinner" was held in Hong Kong, with the participation of officials from Hong Kong and Macau, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, business leaders, and more than 300 participants from airlines, cruise companies, and tourism operators across the region. The event showcased Khmer cuisine and Cambodia’s tourism while raising funds for charity, including health initiatives in Kampong Speu province. The Cambodian Prime Minister encouraged Chinese stakeholders to promote Cambodia’s tourism and investment opportunities, with support from the Cambodian tourism ministry. The president of the Cambodia Chinese Tour Guide Association said that Chinese tourists now tend to stay longer in Cambodia, typically 5-8 days, due to the reduction of direct flights between Cambodia and Chinese cities, with Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, and Phnom Penh being popular destinations

The Cambodian government-organised border visits, launched on 22 Aug and runs from Sep-Dec 2024, attracted over 2,000 citizens up to date. According to the Information Ministry spokesperson, over 4,000 additional people have registered for upcoming tours. A Government spokesperson said that the tours dispel opposition-driven misinformation about territorial concessions to Vietnam. He added that participants reported complete satisfaction with the program

The President of the Cambodian Tourism Association proposed incorporating Bokator martial arts demonstrations into tourism packages to attract visitors. She suggested performances at popular tourist destinations, entertainment venues, and food outlets, highlighting the potential for local communities to earn income from martial arts performances. The founder of the Cambodia Bokator Federation and Academy supports the initiative and emphasises the need for sponsorship to enhance performances

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Cambodia Travel Match (CTM) 2024 will be held in Kampot from 14-15 Dec, alongside the 11th Sea Festival. The event facilitates B2B matchmaking and long-term partnerships through a 15-minute pre-scheduled meeting format. The Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association said that the event is expected to welcome 100 Cambodian sellers, with 12 from Indonesia, 15 from India, 10 from Vietnam, 25 from Thailand, and others from Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Russia, and China have confirmed their participation. From 13-15 Dec, the Sea Festival 2024 will also be held in Kampot province, with activities including live concerts, fireworks, sports competitions, exhibitions, and food festivals

During the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Paraguay, the Cambodian scarf, known as the krama, was inscribed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Senate President expressed national pride and praised this accomplishment as a reflection of Cambodia's dedication to cultural preservation

The Siem Reap Provincial Administration and the Department of Culture and Fine Arts planned to organise the upcoming Kleng Ek Festival in Siem Reap, from 27-29 Dec 2024. According to an official of the Siem Reap Provincial Administration, activities will include kite-flying ceremonies, evening artistic performances, and exhibitions showcasing the process and cultural significance of Kleng Ek

On 2 Dec, the ASEAN-Korea Centre, in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism held a seminar on the use of technologies and best practices to enhance the tourism industry. Key outcomes included strategies to boost Cambodia's global tourism competitiveness, evaluation of sector development policies, and identification of growth pathways. The ASEAN-Korea Centre plans to launch bilateral ASEAN-Korea Quality Tourism Development Towards Sustainability projects with all 10 ASEAN nations over the next 3 years to promote sustainable and inclusive growth

During a meeting between the Cambodian Prime Minister and Laos Prime Minister on 4 Dec, the 2 countries signed 3 bilateral agreements on the elimination of double taxation, agriculture cooperation, and cultural exchange. They discussed establishing a new border checkpoint between Ratanakiri province and Attapeu province to boost trade, tourism, transportation, and agreed to explore increasing direct flights

The 6th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting was held in Yangon, chaired by Laos’ Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism. It looked at ACMECS cooperation, and agreed to actively promote “Five countries, one destination”, as well as prioritise digitalisation

According to the Ministry of Tourism, from Jan-Oct 2024, Cambodia welcomed 5.37 million international visitors, +22% YoY. Top markets include Thailand with 1.72 million visitors (+14.9% YoY), Vietnam with 1.08 million visitors (+31.6% YoY), and China with 691,736 visitors (+52.5% YoY). Around 1.9 million foreign tourists, 35.5% of total arrivals, traveled to Cambodia by air, +27% YoY

From Jan-Nov 2024, the Angkor Archaeological Park welcomed 898,336 foreign tourists, +28.3% YoY. According to a report by Angkor Enterprise, ticket sales from the park generated nearly $42 million USD, +28.7% YoY. Tourists from the U.S. led with 92,841 visitors (+10.33% YoY), followed by the UK with 77,446 visitors (+8.62% YoY). Other key markets included France, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, and India. In Nov 2024, the park welcomed 124,136 foreign tourists and earned nearly $6 million USD, +26.9% YoY and 27.4% YoY, respectively

The Prime Minister visited the Kampong Phluk Ecotourism Community after the 29th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon, inspected the living conditions of residents and interacted with community members, including tourist boat operators. He pledged improvements to boost tourism in Kampong Phluk, including an 8-kilometre paved road, a tourist ticketing booth, and more trash bins

Cambodia ranked 159th out of 180 countries on the Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2024, scoring 49 out of 100. The NCI highlighted that Cambodia and other Asian nations face severe biodiversity threats from deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, urbanisation, and industrial growth, which damage habitats and accelerate environmental degradation

During King Sihamoni’s official state visit to Vietnam from 28-29 Nov 2024, Vietnam's Prime Minister pledged to support Cambodia in hosting the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026, sharing expertise and experiences to ensure the event's success. The Prime Minister proposed establishing a Vietnamese language centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh to foster cultural and linguistic exchanges. He also urged Cambodia to address challenges faced by ethnic Vietnamese communities, emphasising their role as a bridge for bilateral friendship

The Minister of Tourism met with Visa's Regional President for Asia Pacific and colleagues on 28 Nov. The minister appreciated Visa's past contributions to promoting Cambodian tourism, and highlighted the leadership of the Prime Minister and the continuation of the win-win policy by the President of the Senate

According to a press release by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Cambodia committed to advance key collaborative projects including the Fish and Rice Corridor, the Industrial Development Corridor, the Modern Agricultural Development Project, and Mixed Energy Project. Both sides aim to restore Chinese visitor arrivals to pre-pandemic levels by enhancing direct flights and improving tourism infrastructure

6 months after resuming its daily flights between Phnom Penh and Dubai (via Singapore) in May 2024, Emirates has carried around 19,000 passengers and transported over 3,000,000 kg of cargo. The airline’s top 5 destinations from Cambodia include Dubai, Singapore, France, Switzerland, and the UK. Emirates' country manager for Cambodia said that passenger demand is growing steadily, including on the Singapore-bound leg, enhancing Phnom Penh's position as a travel hub. A new travel shop will open in central Phnom Penh by 2025 to improve service access

On 26 Nov, the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and the Executive Director of Bendigo Kangan Institute led discussions on technical training in vehicle services, particularly electric vehicles (EVs), aiming to align Cambodian automotive workforce skills with international standards. The Ministry also hosted a workshop on Public-Private Partnerships in TVET, aiming to strengthen partnerships among public and private sectors and development partners, with key topics include sustainable skills development, enhancing workforce accreditation testing and lifelong training opportunities

The Prime Minister urged stakeholders to reassess land-use conditions and zoning in the Angkor Archaeological Park, to balance residential needs with the preservation of heritage sites, and ensure that land management aligns with urban planning and construction principles. This arose due to longstanding disputes between local residents and the Apsara National Authority (ANA) over land for housing in the park. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Land Management, Ministry of Culture, and architectural teams to create plans for 114 villages in the park. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Land Management said that the Ministry is clarifying land ownership for state and private lands, while developing and finalizing land-use conditions for the villages

The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, have been directed to prepare architectural guidelines for the Angkor Archaeological Park, with an aim to ensure construction within the 400-square-kilometer area aligns with Khmer architectural style. The Prime Minister said that non-traditional styles can only be implemented outside the heritage zone. The guidelines will define the architectural style for villages in the Angkor area for the next 50 years, with input from the Board of Architects and the Board of Engineers, focusing on exterior designs

Thailand and Cambodia will restart bus services between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, and Bangkok and Siem Reap, on 29 Nov, marking the first operation since services were halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. The services are jointly managed by Thailand's Transport Co and Cambodia's Vireak Buntham Express Co

Thailand’s Transport Co. and Cambodia’s Vireak Buntham Express Co. have signed an agreement to resume cross-border bus services connecting Bangkok with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from 29 Nov, after a 3-year hiatus

The Prime Minister dismissed reports by international media about funding issues for the Funan Techo Canal (FTC) project, stating that Cambodia's government had a solid plan with backup partners prepared to step in if needed. He added that the government is prioritising proper implementation procedures, and ensuring responsible construction. The Ministry of Public Works and Transports (MPWT) denied claims of financial issues, stating that research and assessments are ongoing with active implementation of the project. A policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) believed that the Cambodian government has the resources to fully finance this $1.7 billion USD project independently

The 29th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon will take place on 1 Dec, with 14,000 runners registered, surpassing the previous high of 12,000 in 2019. The increase in participants is attributed to government efforts to promote Siem Reap and the Prime Minister’s involvement. Registration fees will fund prosthetic limbs, social reintegration programs, education, rehabilitative medicine, and support for underprivileged children