On 31 October 2017, the opening ceremony of the 2nd National Forum on “Chinese Market and China-Ready for Cambodia Tourism” was held in Phnom Penh. H.E. Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia (MoT), and H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), were invited to attend the opening ceremony and deliver remarks.
H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping briefed on ASEAN-China relations especially the fruitful exchanges and cooperation in the field of tourism, and the work ACC carried out encompassing the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. She said, tourism cooperation has become a bright spot of ASEAN-China relations and Cambodia-China relations. The bilateral relations have grown from strength to strength. Cambodia and other ASEAN countries have become popular destinations for Chinese tourists, which played an important role in promoting the common welfare of the people and the bonds between the people from both sides. At present, ASEAN-China relations and Cambodia-China relations are at a new historical starting point. As ASEAN and China are actively synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, cooperation in various areas has brimmed with fresh vigour and vitality. Next year will be the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership and the 60th anniversary of Cambodia-China diplomatic relations. Tourism cooperation will usher in a broader space for development. She hoped both sides of the tourism industry to seize this rare opportunity to further improve the tourism environment, upgrade service quality, promote the innovation of tourism products, and take more effective measures to promote sustainable development of tourism. ACC would continue to join hands with all partners and stakeholders to make even greater contribution to the continuous development of ASEAN-China and Cambodia-China relations.
H.E. THONG Khon thanked ACC for its active support and assistance for the development of Chinese tourism market in Cambodia for a long time, and briefed on the implementation of China-Ready strategy and the results achieved. He said that the government of Cambodia attaches great importance to the development of tourism, and is committed to coordinating the promotion of economic and social development and the protection of the natural environment. In 2016, Cambodia received nearly 5,000,000 foreign tourists, realized the traveling income USD 3.4 billion, created 6,200 jobs, and made a share of 13% of GDP's growth. It is estimated that 7 million foreign tourists will arrive in Cambodia in 2020. China is the most important tourism market for Cambodia. The future development of Cambodian tourism largely relies on the rapid growth of Chinese outbound tourists. In the first eight months of this year, more than 740,000 Chinese tourists visited Cambodia, a year-on-year increase of 44.4%. Cambodian government is implementing ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025 as well as ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy (ATMS) aimed at providing warm welcome for approximately 2,000,000 Chinese tourists in 2020. He hoped that through this forum, the in-depth communication between tourism industries from both sides could focus on how to expand tourism promotion in Chinese market, provide more convenient services to Chinese tourists, strengthen tourism products innovation,- promote the tourism industry’s public-private partnerships, and contribute wisdom and strength in deepening bilateral tourism cooperation. MoT is willing to continue to strengthen contact with ACC, and expects ACC to continue to provide support and assistance to Cambodia to expand Chinese tourism market and strengthen the capacity building of tourism practitioners.
Prior to the opening ceremony, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping and H.E. Dr. THONG Khon exchanged views on deepening Cambodia-China and ASEAN-China tourism cooperation. The senior officials from MoT and other relevant government departments, Ms. Kong Roatlomang, Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC, and Mr. Zhang Xuehai, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Division of ACC, attended.
