AKP Phnom Penh, April 24, 2025 --

The Ministry of Tourism has reaffirmed Cambodia’s readiness to welcome Muslim-friendly tourists, as part of its ongoing efforts to diversify and expand the Kingdom’s tourism market.

On April 22 in Istanbul, Türkiye, Cambodian Minister of Tourism H.E. Huot Hak met with Mr. Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of Crescent Rating and HalalTrip, and his delegation. The meeting focused on promoting Cambodia as a Muslim-friendly tourism destination through the global networks of Crescent Rating and HalalTrip, according to the ministry.

Mr. Bahardeen expressed his company’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to support the growth of this sector. The cooperation will include training programmes in hospitality and digital skills, aiming to enhance service quality and better accommodate Muslim travellers.

The Ministry of Tourism has been actively developing strategies to attract Muslim tourists. These include creating new tourism products and destinations, and expanding facilities such as halal-certified restaurants and prayer rooms to meet the needs of Muslim visitors. These efforts are aligned with global tourism trends and the steady growth of the Muslim travel market.

In 2024, Cambodia welcomed 6.7 million international visitors—a 22.9 percent increase compared to the previous year—including approximately 400,000 Muslim tourists, pointed out the Ministry of Tourism.

The Cambodian delegation, led by Minister Huot Hak, arrived in Istanbul on April 21 to participate in the 2025 Annual Summit and General Assembly of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Government Members’ Policy Forum, and other key events.

By C. Nika