Sok Soken (right), Minister of Tourism, holds talks with Santo Darmosumarto, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Cambodia, in Phnom Penh. KT/Yarn Soveit
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is prepared to implement the signed memorandum of understanding on tourism collaboration between Cambodia and Indonesia aimed at establishing a joint travelling programme to connect and facilitate tourists to various destinations across the two nations.
This happened yesterday as Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism welcomed the Indonesian delegation led by Santo Darmosumarto, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Cambodia, discussing the possibility of further strengthening tourism cooperation and creating more tourism activities that remained inactive due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Soken appreciated the Indonesian government for the collaboration and support in every sector during these five years, especially in the tourism industry which led to an increase of tourists visiting the Kingdom by almost twice in the last five months.
The Minister emphasised that Indonesians are among the most important tourism markets for Cambodia hence during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 hosted in Laos, he organised a meeting with Sandiaga Uno, Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, purposely to exchange strategies as well as setting out several policies aims to further strengthen tourism cooperation for mutual interests.
Tourists visit the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Cambodia and Indonesia are mulling for a joint travelling programme to facilitate tourists to various destinations across the two nations. KT/Aim Valinda
He took the opportunity to inform the Ambassador that MoT is well-prepared and ready to implement the signed MoU on tourism collaboration between the two countries as well as send out working groups to monitor and review, ensuring that the project will achieve its goals.
Santo welcomed the initiative to establish a joint affiliate tourism cooperation which requires a partnership with Cambodia to efficiently promote sister destinate programmes, connecting tourism flow to various destinations across the two nations.
After attending some events in Siem Reap, the Ambassador stressed that the Kingdom is livelier than its rumours therefore he suggested a tourism agency company called ‘Tripadvisor’, an American firm that operates online that could help promote Angkor Wat.
The Minister also highlighted the Kingdom’s mission and versions which have been compiled into five strategic pillars known as ‘BUILD’ and three supporting components ‘3Ds’ the compass for Cambodia’s tourism development which will transform Cambodia into a vibrant, competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism destination.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Chhay Sivlin, President of Cambodia Tourism Association said, “Indonesia has a huge population of nearly 300 million people and the country is also known worldwide due to the two famous tourism destinations such as the Bali province and Borobudur temple which are similar to Preah Sihanouk province and Angkor Wat temple.”
She added that every year millions of international tourists visiting Indonesia might also be interested in extending their trip to our nation as well. In fact, if we could only attract 10 percent of those tourists, we should not worry about tourist flow.
Sivlin emphasised that the major concern is that our country only has four flights per week coming from this country and all those flights are run by a single airline – Air Asia. It would be better if the government could establish direct flights from Bali to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.