Phnom Penh Post
By Rann Reuy
Tourism officials have revised upwards their forecast for foreign tourist arrivals from 7 to 7.5 million per year by 2020.
The
estimate was released yesterday during a presentation to the delegates
of UNESCO at the Ministry of Tourism by Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong
Khon.
Khon told the Post the ministry arrived at the new figures
in April, when foreign tourists had already reached 1.5 million for
this year.
“Before we thought we would receive only 3.8 million this year, but now we expect 4.2 million for this year,” he said.
According
to Khon, the government had implemented strategies to make visitors
stay longer. He cited an example of changes to a weekly ticket to visit
the Angkor complex, whereby visitors were no longer restricted to fixed
dates but could return to the complex with the ticket throughout their
entire stay in Cambodia.
Khon said that upheaval in the Middle East region also meant that tourists were turning to Asia as a holiday destination.
“We are trying to ensure that visitors who visit Asia do not miss Cambodia,” he said.
Ang
Kim Eang, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said
he agreed on figures raised by the minister but noted that Cambodia
needed to do more to enhance tourism infrastructure, including safe
transportation and accommodation at tourism destinations.
“Local investors need to participate more to enhance tourism and take opportunities to invest in this sector,” he said.
The
number of international tourists in Cambodia increased 24.4 per cent
from 2.88 million in 2011 to 3.58 million in 2012, according to data
from the Ministry of Tourism.
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