Cambodia and Belgium Discuss Tourism Cooperation and Francophonie Village Participation

On August 3, 2026, His Excellency Hou Hak, Minister of Tourism, received His Excellency Michel Parys, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of Cambodia, residing in Bangkok, and his colleagues. The meeting was held for a courtesy call and in-depth discussions on establishing cooperation in the tourism sector between the two countries, as well as participation in the 'Village Francophonie' event, organized in conjunction with the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh. During this important meeting, His Excellency the Minister expressed his gratitude and high appreciation to the government and people of Belgium for continuously strengthening friendly relations and cooperation with Cambodia. He also briefed on Cambodia's political, economic, social, and tourism situation, emphasizing that Cambodia remains a peaceful, safe, and warmly hospitable destination for international tourists. He also highlighted the campaigns "Cambodia: Kingdom of Wonder, Feel the Warmth" and "Visit Cambodia in the Green Season" to further promote the growth of international tourist arrivals to Cambodia. In addition, His Excellency the Minister informed His Excellency the Ambassador about the notable number of Belgian tourists visiting Cambodia and Belgian investors in the hospitality sector, which contribute to strengthening and expanding tourism cooperation between the two countries. Specifically, discussions covered exploring the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation, organizing familiarization trips (FAM Trips) for tourism companies, journalists, and content creators, holding a Cambodia-Belgium Tourism Investment Forum, and promoting business-to-business (B2B) cooperation between the two countries to attract investment and increase tourist flows. In response, His Excellency the Ambassador echoed the excellent bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and Belgium in various sectors, including investments by Belgian citizens and the presence of Belgian nationals in Cambodia. He confirmed that the Belgian government, with key delegations, will participate in the accompanying 'Village Francophonie' event, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, during Cambodia's hosting of the 20th Francophonie Summit next November. It is worth noting that the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1955 and re-established them in 1992, marking over 34 years of relations.