Cambodia is rolling out the welcome mat for Chinese tourists after Beijing eased travel restrictions under its optimized Covid-19 strategy.
“The whole of Cambodia is waiting for the return of the Chinese tourists and we are ready to welcome them,” said Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter. He was responding to the much-anticipated gradual resumption of outbound tourism from China that came in on Sunday.
Given the long relationship between the two countries, Sinan said he expects the return of not only the tourists but also investors. He told China Daily that both the public and the private sectors in Cambodia have been in discussions on how to prepare for the potential influx of Chinese visitors.
The number of Chinese visitors from the Chinese mainland is estimated to reach 1 million in 2023, a tenfold increase from 2022, the country’s Tourism Minister Thong Khon was quoted as saying in a report by The Phnom Penh Post on Friday.
Khon said the government has prepared “clear plans and programs” to cater to Chinese tourists.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Cambodia, and the nation will launch a “Cambodia-China Good Friend” campaign to welcome Chinese tourists.
“Cambodia is pleased to welcome Chinese tourists to visit Cambodia without any health conditions,” the tourism ministry said in a statement on Friday, noting that the country is ready to receive both Chinese and other international tourists.
The statement said China’s easing of coronavirus-related travel restrictions will give a big boost to the tourism sector in all countries since the Asian giant has traditionally been a huge source of tourists for the world.
Source: Khmer Timeskh
