Tourism minister Huot Hak (in yellow) at the ITB Berlin 2025 event. Tourism ministry
The “International Tourismus Borse (ITB Berlin) 2025” tourism world expo is expected to bring great positive outcomes for Cambodia’s tourism sector. During the event, a Cambodian delegation promoted the Kingdom’s tourism potential to the leaders and stakeholders of the tourism industries of many countries, said the Ministry of tourism.
A ministry press release explained that tourism minister Huot Hak led the Kingdom’s delegation to the March 4-6 event in Berlin, Germany.
The delegation consisted of ministry officials, artists and representatives of the private sector.
ITB Berlin is the world’s largest tourism world expo, with 5,800 exhibitors and participants from over 170 countries, including heads of state, tourism ministers, tourism industry leaders, local and international journalists, private companies and buyers.
The ministry organised a booth that featured cultural performances, showcases of Cambodian products and video presentations promoting Cambodia's tourism potential.
In addition, members of the Kingdom’s private sector held almost 500 meetings with major buyers from around the world, predominantly European nations. The discussions resulted in several sales of Cambodian tourism products and services.
The ministry added that during the event, minister Hak participated in a summit meeting with 24 tourism ministers and over 50 tourism leaders, organised by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), under the theme: “Enhancing Investment, Ensuring Peace: Harnessing Growth, Shaping the Future”.
During the event, he emphasised that political stability and peace are fundamental to promoting growth in the tourism sector and attracting investment in all sectors.
The Cambodian government views tourism as a “green gold mine”, and peace and stability are critical for maximising the sector’s potential, he explained.
In addition to participating in the summit, the minister and private sector representatives from Cambodia met with entrepreneurs and industry leaders from various countries to discuss business opportunities.
The ministry statement claimed that participation in ITB Berlin 2025 has brought success and notable results for the Kingdom’s tourism industry, including increased promotion, contracts for tourism service packages and strengthened business networks in the European and global tourism markets.
Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, believed that all tourism exhibitions aim to promote and attract more tourists to various destinations.
“Events like this benefit not only the host country but also participating companies and attendees. Participating in such global events provides great benefits for Cambodia’s tourism sector,” she said.
Sivlin explained that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism sector made a significant contribution to Cambodia’s economic growth through job creation and income for many directly involved.
The tourism ministry reported that 2019 was the highest earning year for Cambodia’s international tourism sector, generating $4.919 billion, a 12.4% increase over 2018.
The Covid-19 crisis caused the near-total collapse of the industry, before it began to recover in 2023.
According to the ministry, in 2024, Cambodia welcomed a total of 6.7 million international tourists, an increase of around 23% compared to 2023.
The tourism sector generated $3.637 billion in revenue, an 18% increase, contributing about 9.4% of the country’s total GDP.
