Phnom Penh:Cambodia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to enhance their tourism cooperation and are considering direct flights between the two countries. This development came after a meeting between Cambodia's Minister of Tourism, H.E. Huot Hak, and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Thamer Mohammed A Algosaibi.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting, held on October 6, focused on strengthening tourism links and included discussions on working with Saudia Airlines to potentially establish regular flights between Cambodia and Riyadh.
Minister Huot Hak highlighted the importance of tourism as a key economic pillar for Cambodia, emphasizing the country's commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for tourists. He expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia's ongoing cooperation in various sectors and reiterated Cambodia's readiness to expand this partnership.
Both countries are working towards signing a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation. They plan to organize familiarization trips for tourism operators, content creators, and journalists to promote tourism potential. The agreement also includes efforts to boost investment, joint marketing, and the promotion of Muslim tourism.
Diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Saudi Arabia were established on October 19, 2010. Their cooperation in tourism continues to grow, with Cambodia supporting the establishment of the UN Tourism Regional Office in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia hosting the 2025 UN Tourism General Assembly.