Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has outlined a number of strategies which will lead to the re-opening of national and international tourism activities ‘step by step’ in Cambodia.
In his message – celebrating World Tourism Day 2021 – the PM said that tourism has been severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic on all parts of the supply chain.
In Cambodia, the number of international tourists has decreased by 80.2%, affecting more than 110,000 direct jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs, and this trend will continue to decline in 2021.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the Royal Government has set a strict strategic angle and set out a policy to vaccinate the population against COVID-19 as soon as possible, in accordance with the set goals, and to continue to promote the implementation of administrative and health measures, especially the “3-Prevention-3-Do” rule to be the basis for the full reopening of economic and social activities, step by step in a new path of normalcy and high responsibility.
To save the tourism sector from the COVID-19 crisis, the Prime Minister has set out four priority strategies:
1: Based on the speed of vaccination throughout Cambodia, we believe that Cambodia’s tourism destinations really guarantee the safety, trust and confidence of national and international tourists.
This, combined with the adoption of a new normal life by adhering to health measures to prevent COVID-19, will enable Cambodia to gradually reopen domestic and international tourism activities, maintaining public health as a priority.
Relevant authorities at all levels, the private sector and stakeholders must cooperate to support the strategic planning in preparation for the opening of safe tourism in the future.
2: In the past, the tourism sector has played an active role as a growth engine for other socio-economic sectors through the influence of the economic coefficient of 4 to 5 times and the high coefficient of employment, with one direct job in the tourism sector can create 1.5 indirect jobs. In this regard, the PM encouraged relevant institutions, local authorities, the private sector, youth and national and international development partners to promote the creation and supply of more diverse tourism services through the launch of youth and business programs in the tourism sector. Promote the creation and innovation of rural tourism, as well as raise awareness and build digital tourism capacity at the local level under the coordination and leadership of the Ministry of Tourism and under the cooperation of the World Tourism Organization, the international community and development partners.
3. The COVID-19 crisis has left the tourism supply chain at all levels almost completely suspended, which has hindered the upcoming tourism recovery process.
In this regard, The PM called on the relevant ministries and institutions to cooperate more actively with the Ministry of Tourism to train additional skills and new skills for young people in accordance with the mechanism for the development of sustainable tourism skills.
Read the full article at Khmer Times: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50940765/pm-outlines-strategy-to-gradually-reopen-domestic-and-international-tourism-activities/
