Cambodia Taps Booming Muslim Travel Market With Tourism Fair

By Vijian Paramasivam

PHNOM PENH, July 10 (NNN) -- Cambodia hosted its third Muslim-friendly tourism fair Friday to attract more travellers from Islamic countries, as tourist arrivals lost momentum this year.

The three-day Cambodia Muslim Tourism Forum and Exhibition, held under the theme "A Land of Gentle Heart, A Home of Trusted Travel," began in Phnom Penh to showcase the country's rich cultural heritage and growing Muslim-friendly tourism infrastructure.

Cambodia’s Tourism Minister Huot Hak said the event is to showcase the kingdom's rich tourism diversity and immense potential and the country's commitment to delivering high-quality tourism services to Muslim travellers.

“(It is) to strengthen Cambodia's readiness to provide hospitality and tourism services that cater to Muslim travellers in line with the evolving trends and demands of both domestic and international Muslim tourism markets,” Huot said in his opening remarks.

The Southeast Asian nation has emerged as a major tourist destination in the Indochina region. For decades, tourists have arrived to take in the country’s beauty, from pristine beaches to the ruins of ancient temples.

Last year, Cambodia attracted 5.6 million tourists. However, the sector has been dealt a blow as arrivals dwindled to just 1.5 million in the first five months of this year, representing a 48 per cent drop, according to the ministry.

The negative impact is largely attributed to a significant drop in cross-border travels between Cambodia and Thailand, after land borders were closed last July amid a territorial dispute between the two nations.

On top of that, the conflict in West Asia has also affected long-haul travel patterns this year.

To shore up its tourism sector, the government is introducing new products such as a "green tourism" campaign for the low monsoon season and developing the archaeological site of Phnom Kulen into a major tourist attraction in Siem Reap, home to the world-famous Angkor Wat.

To promote Cambodia as a global halal destination, the country has seen a proliferation of Muslim-friendly hotels, halal restaurants, and prayer rooms at shopping malls and other tourist attraction sites. 

The ministry is also intensifying its social media campaigns, media familiarisation trips, and engagement with embassies in Phnom Penh to further its tourism agenda.

--NNN