By MoT
Phnom Penh. The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions as well as the private sector, is jointly discussing and exploring key measures concerning visa exemptions for high-potential tourism markets, travel facilitation, and enhanced air connectivity.
These measures are considered important catalysts for increasing international tourist arrivals and driving growth in the tourism and aviation sectors, with a view to preparing recommendations for submission to the Head of the Royal Government for consideration and decision.
H.E. HUOT Hak, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Working Group (Group “B”), chaired a consultative meeting with all domestic and international airlines operating in Cambodia. The meeting was attended by Oknha Luu Meng, Co-Chairman of the Tourism Working Group (Group “B”); senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism; representatives of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation; the Economic and Financial Policy Committee; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior; as well as representatives from the private sector, including domestic and international airlines, foreign chambers of commerce in Cambodia, AmCham, CanCham, EuroCham, Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd., airport operators, and tourism industry associations, with a total of 77 participants.
H.E. the Minister stated that the meeting was convened as a follow-up to the outcomes of the Tourism Working Group (Group “B”) meeting held on 4 August 2026, during which the private sector raised two key requests that also formed the main agenda of today’s discussion: (1) consideration of visa exemption policies for selected high-potential markets and an extension of the pilot visa exemption scheme for Chinese nationals until the end of the year; and (2) a proposal to establish a special national-level mechanism to support the recovery of the tourism and aviation sectors and ensure more effective public-private coordination on relevant policies.
H.E. the Minister emphasized that the meeting provided a platform for frank and constructive dialogue to listen to challenges and jointly identify practical solutions aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Cambodia’s tourism sector and strengthening air connectivity. He underlined that tourism and aviation are strategically interconnected and closely intertwined sectors that cannot be separated from one another.
In this regard, in order to increase international tourist arrivals, accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector, and further support the operations and growth of airlines, H.E. the Minister further stressed that tourism and aviation require strong synergy and collective participation from the Royal Government, the private sector, airlines, airports, and all relevant stakeholders.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of the Royal Government and the private sector to jointly identify practical solutions to existing challenges and formulate key strategic directions to expand tourism markets, attract more international visitors to Cambodia, and strengthen air connectivity.
During the meeting, H.E. the Minister also expressed his appreciation to H.E. Dr. Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, for his cooperation and facilitation in bringing together the airlines for the discussion. He also thanked Neak Oknha Kith Meng, President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, for facilitating the participation of tourism industry associations and relevant chambers of commerce. H.E. the Minister likewise expressed his appreciation to Oknha Luu Meng, Co-Chairman of Group “B”, and the Secretariat for their continued efforts in coordinating and ensuring the smooth organization of the meeting.
