Cambodia Boosts Tourism Recovery Through Public-Private Partnership

In Cambodia, moves are underway to strengthen cooperation between the government and the private sector to restore the tourism sector and attract international tourists. At a progress meeting of the Government-Private Sector Tourism Working Group (Group "B"), held at the Ministry of Tourism on August 4, 2026, it was confirmed that urgent and concrete measures would be implemented, acknowledging the significant decline in tourist arrivals. Hout Hak, Minister of Tourism, stated at the meeting that the decrease in international tourists in the first half of 2026 was influenced by a combination of factors, including negative information and fraud via technology, border issues with Thailand, and rising fuel prices due to tensions and wars in the Middle East, which impacted international travel. He emphasized that the government is continuously implementing intervention measures to support the private sector and that the public-private partnership is essential for transforming challenges into opportunities and boosting the tourism sector's recovery. The meeting shared concrete achievements, such as the signing of an MOU with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to develop Phnom Kulen as a natural tourist destination and to strengthen the green belt initiative and agricultural production chains in tourism areas (August 1, 2026). Discussions also covered 11 requests from the private sector, including visa exemptions for target markets, a tourism development fund for branding, marketing, and promotion, elevating major national events to international levels, and further improving the investment and business environment. Specifically, the promotion of more direct flights from key markets was raised as an issue requiring in-depth discussions between tourism authorities, civil aviation, airlines, and the private sector. Ultimately, the meeting agreed to implement practical and realistic urgent and key measures focused on restoring Cambodia's international reputation and positive image, enhancing the confidence of international tourists, actively promoting tourism markets, attracting international events, and stimulating domestic tourism. This integrated public-private effort aims to bolster the resilience of Cambodia's tourism industry and achieve sustainable growth. Source: CEN Cambodia