Latest news with #HuotHak


The Star
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cambodia sees 50% rise in Chinese tourist arrivals in Jan-May period
People sit in tourist boats sailing along the Mekong river in front of the Royal Palace on November 19, 2021. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. - AFP PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has recorded a 50 per cent increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the first five months of 2025, said the Ministry of Tourism's latest report released on Tuesday (July 1). A total of 488,973 Chinese visitors traveled to the South-East Asian country during the January-May period of this year, up 50 per cent from 326,003 over the same period last year. The number of Chinese tourists accounted for 16.6 per cent of the total 2.95 million international tourist arrivals to Cambodia, the report said, adding that China was the third-largest source of foreign holidaymakers to the kingdom after Thailand and Vietnam. "I firmly believe that the Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025 will surely become an important opportunity to attract more Chinese tourists to Cambodia and deepen tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries," Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak said in a recent speech. Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said Chinese tourists are crucial for Cambodia's tourism industry. "The current cooperation between Cambodia and China in tourism is promising, with growing numbers of Chinese visitors contributing significantly to our economy," he told Xinhua. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garments, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate. - Xinhua

Barnama
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Food Diplomacy Charms Cambodians Ahead Of Visit Malaysia 2026
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (left) and Cambodia Tourism Minister Huot Hak at the food fest. Photo credit: Bernama The launching of 'Malaysia Food and Culture Fest 2025' in Phnom Penh on Saturday. Photo credit: Bernama By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, June 22 (Bernama) - - Malaysia added another flavour to its ambitious Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign by bringing the best of its diverse cuisines to the Cambodian capital on Saturday. Tourism Malaysia organised a special gastronomic fair to promote the country's culinary heritage by hosting the 'Malaysia Food and Culture Fest 2025' in the rain-soaked afternoon of Phnom Penh's monsoon season. bootstrap slideshow Held at the newly designated weekend walk-street along the popular riverside, the symbolic two-day food fair captivated the cosmopolitan Phnom Penh, which itself is known for its vibrant mosaic of international cuisines peddled by foreigners residing in the capital. In his welcoming address at the event, Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Shaharuddin Onn said the nation's multi-ethnic food culture is paramount in building Malaysian identity and unity. 'Malaysia has a beautiful mix of people and ethnic groups, from festivals, tradition, languages and customs, and all are living together as a family. 'This spirit of multiculturalism is something we share with Cambodia. This food fest is a showcase of Malaysia's heart and soul,' Shaharuddin said. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is leading a Malaysian delegation to Cambodia, from June 18 to 22 June 2025, to ramp up travel ties and strengthen economic momentum ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026. Cambodia Tourism Minister Huot Hak was the special guest at the event. Some 30 Malaysian food and beverage operators and businesses residing in Phnom Penh participated in the colourful event.


The Star
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cambodia tourism minister suggests additional South Korean air links
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has requested that Asiana Airlines explore the possibility of operating flights between South Korea and the Kingdom's Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk provinces. At present, the Seoul-headquartered airline flies to Phnom Penh. Prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the airline served Cambodia's two provincial international airports. This proposal was raised by Minister of Tourism Huot Hak, during a June 5 meeting with Park Jongman, vice-CEO and head of Passenger Affairs at the airline, in Seoul. During the meeting, Hak expressed his appreciation for the company's contribution to providing safe and comfortable air transport services between Cambodia and South Korea. He urged the airline to consider expanding its direct flights to Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk, which are both considered popular tourist areas in Cambodia. 'We requested continued assistance and suggested examining the possibility of further expansion through direct and regular flights to Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk provinces, which are popular tourist destinations, to provide a level of convenience to Korean and other international guests and investors travelling to Cambodia,' he said. Sinn Chanserey Vutha, spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), told The Post on June 9 that the authorities are constantly working to attract more international airlines and foreign visitors to Cambodia. 'We welcome all airlines wishing to fly to Cambodia. The country is fully prepared to receive flights as well as tourists and foreign investors coming to visit Cambodia,' he said. On Sept 9, the new Techo International Airport will commence operations. The facility is a 'Greenfield' airport, meaning it was built on area that was previously undeveloped land, in this case, 2,600 hectares in Kandal province, about 19km south of Phnom Penh. A 4F-category airport, it was designed to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 747-800. The airport is being developed in three phases, Phase 1 (2020–2030) will handle 15 million passengers per year, Phase 2 (2030–2050) will see capacity grow to 30 million and Phase 3 (after 2050) will reach 45 million. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN


The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
China province commits to promoting Cambodian tourism industry
Tourists wait for sunrise at the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. - AP PHNOM PENH: China's Jiangsu Provincial Administration of China has pledged to strengthen cooperation with Cambodia's tourism industry and agreed to share the Kingdom's tourism potential with the people of the province, as well as the wider Chinese population, in a bid to encourage more tourists to visit Cambodia. This commitment was during a May 23 meeting between Jiangsu Provincial Governor Xu Kunlin and Minister of Tourism Huot Hak, at the tourism ministry headquarters in Phnom Penh. Hak offered a warm welcome to the Jiangsu delegation, who were visiting the Kingdom to attend the opening ceremony of the 'Cambodia-China Tourism Year'. He praised the long-standing 67-year diplomatic ties between Cambodia and China, emphasising the spirit of the 'Ironclad Friendship and Shared Future in the New Era', along with the 'Diamond Cooperation Framework' between the two nations. The minister also offered his congratulations on the recent resumption of direct flights between Wuxi city, Jiangsu province, and Preah Sihanouk province's Sihanoukville on May 18, by China's Ruili Airlines. The flights resumed after a two-year suspension. Xu expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to discuss further cooperation with the ministry and highlighted both past and future tourism collaboration between Cambodia and Jiangsu. During the meeting, both parties signed six memoranda of understanding (MoUs). According to a tourism ministry press release, key areas of future cooperation will include the promotion of Cambodia as a tourism destination in Jiangsu. The provincial administration has also agreed to encourage investors from the province to invest in the Kingdom's tourism industry, while also working to increase the number of direct flights between cities in Jiangsu and Cambodia's major tourism destinations. In addition, prominent journalists and influencers from Jiangsu will be invited to explore Cambodia on familiarisation trips later this year, and an upcoming 'Cambodia Festival' in Jiangsu province will showcase Cambodian tourism and culture to the Chinese public. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN


The Star
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Chinese, Cambodian artists on stage at Walking Street in Phnom Penh
PHNOM PENH: Chinese and Cambodian artists jointly performed at the pedestrianised Walking Street in Phnom Penh on Saturday evening (May 24), attracting crowds of spectators. Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin were among the crowds watching the show. During the one-hour performance, the artists entertained strollers along the riverside Sisowath Quay with a variety of performance arts, including traditional music, dance and acrobatics, among others. The cultural show was part of a three-day event to mark the official launch of Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025, which kicked off on Friday. Kun Srey Mol, a 25-year-old spectator, said the show not only promoted the tourism sector, but also deepened cultural ties and people-to-people bonds between Cambodia and China. "It's unique and fascinating, and I have never seen such a show before," she told Xinhua. "I really enjoyed this performance because they performed well, and their gestures synchronised with the music." Chhann Lyly, 25, said the joint cultural event has created a memorable experience for the audience. "I'm really happy to see it because it is really amazing," she told Xinhua. "I believe that the Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025 will bring more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia." - Xinhua