Minister of Tourism Sok Soken met with Lao ambassador Buakeo Phumvongsay on January 9 at the ministry headquarters. Tourism Ministry
The three CLV neighbours – Cambodia and Laos and Vietnam – have designated specialists to discuss coordinated actions and the potential coordination of a CLV tripartite ministerial meeting at the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2024 in the Lao capital Vientiane later this month.
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Minister of Tourism Sok Soken met with Lao ambassador Buakeo Phumvongsay on January 9 at the ministry headquarters.
In a press release following the meeting, the ministry noted discussions on enhancing sustainable tourism collaboration. The goal is to boost tourism, encouraging mutual visitation and reinforcing regional competitiveness for overall sector growth.
During their recent tripartite meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit in the Japanese capital Tokyo on December 17, the CLV prime ministers – Hun Manet, Sonexay Siphandone and Pham Minh Chinh – agreed to promote trilateral tourism cooperation under the banner of “Three Countries One Destination”.
According to a joint press release, tourism minister Soken and the ambassador engaged in discussions regarding the coordination of specialists to strategise collaborative initiatives. Additionally, they explored the prospect of organising a trilateral ministerial meeting during the forthcoming ATF in Vientiane.
Soken also stated his endorsement for Laos hosting the ATF 2024 and the ASEAN Summit 2024.
He noted the ministry’s plan to transform Cambodia into a lively, competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism destination.
“Cambodia and Laos share a longstanding friendship. Building on this strong bond, we’re committed to boosting cooperation, particularly through coordinating additional direct flight connections,” he said.
The ambassador emphasised his commitment to enhancing tourism cooperation, focusing on common initiatives, tourist markets and fostering stronger people-to-people connections.
Ho Vandy, an adviser to the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), underscored the importance of cross-border tourism, saying that tourists typically opt for package tours. European visitors, for instance, may include Cambodia in their itinerary when travelling to Vietnam or Laos, thereby promoting interconnected travel experiences.
“As we know, the ATF each year is crucial to showcase ASEAN member countries’ efforts in revitalising and expanding the tourism sector,” he said.
“The forum provides an opportunity for member countries to engage in a thorough discussion on tourism, exploring collaborative strategies to boost the sector post-pandemic,” Vandy added.
