Tourists visit Angkor Wat in January 2022. Post Staff
Cambodia is actively promoting its tourism sector in Japan by participating in the Tourism Expo Japan 2024, currently taking place in Tokyo. This comes as the number of Japanese visiting Cambodia in the first seven months of 2024 surpassed 60,000.
The Ministry of Tourism announced on its official Facebook page that a Cambodian delegation, led by ministry secretary of state Long Phirum and accompanied by several private companies, is participating in the expo from September 26-29. It noted the initiative aligns with the government’s Stage 1 Political Programme, the Pentagonal Strategy and the Visit Siem Reap 2024 campaign.
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According to the ministry, the event features participation from media, international companies and institutions from over 80 countries. The four-day expo is expected to attract around 180,000 visitors.
“Through participation in the Tourism Expo Japan 2024, the tourism ministry expects to attract more Japanese tourists and investors to Cambodia under the theme: ‘Cambodia: The Kingdom of Wonder, Safety and Warmth’,” it stated.
Thourn Sinan, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter, told The Post on September 27 that Japanese tourists generally prefer to use the services of Japanese companies when traveling.
He said that direct promotion in Japan and partnering with Japanese companies is therefore crucial for boosting the country’s tourism sector. He added that the spending habits of Japanese tourists are similar to those of Chinese and Korean visitors.
“Participating in person to promote Cambodia’s tourism potential is essential for reviving the sector after more than four years of disruption due to Covid-19,” he said.
Khiev Thy, president of the Khmer Angkor Tourist Guide Association (KATGA), noted that the number of international tourists visiting Angkor Wat has increased significantly in recent months.
“If direct flights resume, it would be highly beneficial,” he said.
Tourism minister Huot Hak also attended the 10th China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition (CAEXPO) in Guilin city in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
In the first seven months of 2024, Cambodia received a total of 3,742,230 international tourists, an increase of 23.2% compared to the same period in 2023, which saw 3,037,344 visitors. Among them, 62,497 were Japanese, representing a 48.9% year-on-year increase.
In 2019, Cambodia set a record by welcoming 6.61 million international tourists, of which 207,636 were Japanese, accounting for 3.1% of all foreign visitors.
