By MoT
Phnom Penh, H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, granted an audience to Ms. Vladanka Andreeva, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, along with her colleagues, for a courtesy call and working discussion on strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector at the Ministry of Tourism.
During the meeting, Ms. Vladanka Andreeva expressed her sincere appreciation for the warm welcome and highly praised Cambodia’s infrastructure development, noting its remarkable progress compared to a decade ago.
She also shared her recent visit to Banteay Chhmar Temple, commending its impressive beauty and highlighting its extraordinary historical value as part of Cambodia’s cultural heritage.
In response, H.E. Huot Hak warmly welcomed and congratulated Ms. Andreeva on her appointment as the new UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia. He also highly valued the role and active contributions of the United Nations in supporting Cambodia’s economic, social, and humanitarian development over the years.
The discussions focused on strengthening and expanding cooperation between Cambodia and the United Nations, particularly in the tourism sector. Key areas included sustainable development through improved policies and implementation frameworks, promotion of green tourism standards, strengthening climate resilience in tourism destinations, and advancing community-based tourism. The discussion also emphasized improving community livelihoods, encouraging the participation of youth and women, and providing technical support for human resource development, including hospitality, digital, and green skills to meet the evolving demands of the tourism market.
On this occasion, both sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in priority areas such as community-based tourism development, improvement of tourism data systems, and the use of digital technologies to increase the efficiency of tourism management and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Cambodia. They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Cambodia in promoting inclusive and sustainable tourism, ensuring that the sector’s growth brings tangible benefits to local communities and aligns with global development goals.
In his remarks, H.E. the Minister expressed his gratitude and high appreciation for the United Nations’ role in supporting Cambodia’s socio-economic development, particularly in advancing a sustainable and resilient tourism sector. He highlighted that Cambodia’s peace, political stability, and economic growth provide a strong foundation for attracting international tourists and investors, as well as creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism development.
In conclusion, both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening and expanding close cooperation to promote Cambodia’s tourism sector toward sustainability, inclusiveness, and greater competitiveness, in line with national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
It is worth noting that Cambodia became a member of the United Nations in 1955. The United Nations also played a crucial role in supporting Cambodia in 1991 through the Paris Peace Agreements, which were key to restoring peace, stability, and development in the country.
