Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, has outlined the country’s tourism targets for 2023 in an interview ahead of the Mekong Tourism Forum in Preah Sihanoukville. The aim is to increase the number of international tourist arrivals from 4 million in 2022 to 4.5 million in 2023, with a focus on the “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” campaign, centred around MICE and sports, with the theme “Every Day is A Wonder”. Other planned events include the Southeast Asian Games in May, the 12th ASEAN Para Games in June, and the Mekong Tourism Forum in April.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected Cambodia’s tourism, with international arrivals dropping significantly in 2020 and 2021. However, the country became the first in ASEAN to fully re-open for international travellers in October 2022, and tourism infrastructure, including new roads, an expressway, and new airports are now being developed. The government is encouraging the aviation sector to boost tourism by applying tax incentives and reducing or waiving landing fees. They also aim to disperse tourism from Angkor Wat to other parts of Cambodia, with a focus on nature tourism, adventure activities, community-based tourism, ecotourism and local food.
The Mekong Tourism Forum is seen as vital in discussing emerging trends in sustainable tourism, including digitalisation, upskilling the tourism workforce, fostering women’s empowerment and accelerating sustainable food systems. Plans to attract new airlines are also underway, with a goal of having 33 airlines connecting to Cambodia through three international airports, with an average of 494 flights per week or 988 movements by March 2028.