Tourism minister Huot Hak (right) meets with Saudi Arabian ambassador Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy on January 9. Tourism ministry
Tourism insiders have lauded a recent meeting between Minister of Tourism Huot Hak and the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Cambodia, suggesting that it will promote the attractiveness of Cambodia as a tourism destination to both the Saudis and the wider Arab world.
The tourism minister met with the Vietnam-based Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy on January 9.
Hak offered his appreciation for the close relationship and cooperation between the two countries in the 10 years since diplomatic relations were established. He also noted that Saudi Arabia is planning to open an embassy in Cambodia soon to further strengthen diplomatic ties and bilateral cooperation.
The minister also informed the Saudi delegation about a recent decision by the Cambodian government to reduce electronic visa fees, bringing the price of tourist e-visas from $36 to $30, and ordinary e-visas from $42 to $35.
The ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Cambodian tourism ministry for engaging in discussions to enhance cooperation and collaboration in the tourism sectors of the two Kingdoms.
According to a statement from the ministry, both sides agreed on several strategies to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism.
They included intensifying tourism cooperation, promoting Muslim-friendly tourism, organising familiarization (FAM) trips with participation from the private tourism sectors of both countries and promoting the tourism potential of the two nations much more widely.
The ministry also reported that Cambodia welcomed over 6.7 million international tourists in 2024, a 22.9% increase compared to 2023, and a 1.4% rise compared to 2019 (pre-Covid-19). In 2024, Cambodia welcomed around 400 tourists from the UAE.
Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents (CATA), told The Post on January 13 that Cambodia has the potential to attract many more tourists from the Arab region, including Saudi Arabia.
She explained drivers of this potential include diverse tourism offerings, such as cultural, historical and beach resorts, as well as the Tonle Sap and especially eco-tourism, which is relatively rare in the Arab region, including in Saudi Arabia.
She further explained that Cambodia now has many direct flights to Arab countries, which is a significant boost to attracting more tourists from the region.
“Through these direct flights, it’s not only tourists from the Arab region that come, but also tourists from other countries. I am optimistic that Cambodia will soon receive more tourists from Saudi Arabia and the broader Arab region,” she said.
She also pointed out that there are now a number of Cambodians travelling to Saudi Arabia and the Arab region, which further promotes Cambodia as a destination.
Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Asia Pacific Travel Association Cambodia chapter, noted that the Arab market is considered one with high potential.
He acknowledged that Cambodia still receives a relatively small number of tourists from Arab countries, and few Cambodians travel there. Nonetheless, layovers (via connecting flights) are quite frequent. He added that all the discussions held will benefit Cambodia's tourism industry and contribute to national economic growth.
“We’ve seen the tourism ministry engage in discussions with leaders and the private tourism sector both domestically and internationally. These efforts are key to fostering closer relationships and boosting trade and tourism,” he explained.
