Cambodia and its determination to revive the tourism industry.

The pandemic began in early 2020, and that year, Cambodia's tourism industry saw an 80% drop in tourist numbers. In 2021, this figure continued to fall by another 85%. At that time, those who had previously depended on tourism had to diversify their income sources. Even those who didn't primarily rely on tourism for their livelihoods were struggling.

The dark clouds of Covid-19 have cast a shadow over Cambodia's tourism industry – one of the four pillars supporting the nation's economy. A spokesperson for the Apsara National Authority – the agency managing the "jewel" Angkor Wat – said that at its peak, the site welcomed 8,000 visitors daily. But now, the number of visitors to Angkor Wat is only a quarter of that, around 2,000 per day.

Tourists from China used to account for 40% of international visitors to Cambodia. However, strict restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the world's most populous country have caused this flow of tourists to gradually dwindle.

Boosting demand for international tourists.

During the pandemic, tourism businesses received government support such as tax reductions. Meanwhile, workers in the industry who lost their jobs received support of $40 per month. In 2021, the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism launched a recovery roadmap aimed at restoring and promoting the tourism industry during and after the pandemic.

In October 2021, the country tested the "sandbox mechanism" – a tourism reopening model that allowed international tourists to visit Sihanoukville, Koh Rong Island, and Dara Sakor from November 30 without quarantine. This was the first step in an overall strategy of gradually reopening to international tourists.

Simultaneously, the country is striving to accelerate the construction of a new international airport in the capital Phnom Penh and build more bridges and roads. Once the new infrastructure is completed, tourists will be able to access lesser-known areas of Cambodia.

At Angkor Wat, the National Apsara Authority took advantage of the Covid-19 shutdown to restore parts of the temple. This helped more than 4,000 workers at Angkor Wat retain their jobs during the pandemic.

“Before the pandemic, we welcomed many tourists from around the world. During the pandemic, Angkor Wat underwent restoration. In addition, the entrance to Angkor Wat was cleaned. The stalls, which used to be concentrated near the temple entrance, have been moved to another area,” said Long Kosal, spokesperson for the Apsara National Authority.

Currently, the Apsara National Authority plans to start local cultural tours around Angkor Wat and in Siem Reap, and also restart ox cart tours that will focus on nearby villages, where tourists can discover local artisans making traditional drums from tree trunks and wooden souvenirs.

By mid-July 2022, Cambodia's tourism industry was fully reopened. Cambodia was one of the first countries to roll out the red carpet for international tourists after taking steps to control the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, approximately 95% of Cambodia's 16 million people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 – one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. In the first seven months of 2022, Cambodia welcomed over half a million international tourists.

Focus on domestic tourism.

While foreign tourist numbers have plummeted over the past two years, domestic tourism has been a much-needed lifeline for Cambodia's tourism industry.

In both 2020 and 2021, approximately 300,000 domestic tourists visited ecotourism destinations. In 2021 alone, this number reached around half a million. Cambodian Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra hopes that local people can spread the image of their homeland to the rest of the world.

Mr. Pheaktra said: "Ecotourism is very important to us because it offers new destinations that capitalize on Cambodia's landscapes. We have forests, rice paddies, and communities that play a role in preserving cultural values. They have the potential to attract more foreign tourists and, at the same time, make domestic tourists love the country even more."

According to the Khmer Times, tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. According to the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, the country attracted 6.61 million international tourists in 2019, generating total revenue of US$4.92 billion. The tourism sector is expected to reach pre-Covid-19 levels by 2026 or 2027.

According to Tith Chantha, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, in the first seven months of 2022, Cambodia welcomed over 500,000 international tourists, a 394% increase compared to the same period in 2021, but still a decrease of 84.8% compared to the same period in 2019.

Anh Thi