AKP Phnom Penh, August 11, 2025 -- The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism and the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Cambodia have initiated discussions on establishing joint community-based ecotourism projects designed to create value-added tourism experiences for European travelers.

Minister of Tourism H.E. Huot Hak met with a senior delegation led by EU Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Igor Driesmans at the ministry on Aug. 11.

Their meeting centered on enhancing sustainable tourism through collaborative initiatives that empower local communities and highlight Cambodia’s natural and cultural assets.

The two sides explored the possibility of developing ecotourism projects that would not only preserve the environment but also provide economic opportunities for rural communities, emphasising the importance of building local capacity to manage these initiatives effectively, and considered strategies to promote Cambodian tourism across EU member states.

The conversation also touched on the potential for establishing direct flight connections between Cambodia and the European Union to broaden accessibility and encourage more European tourists to visit Cambodia.

Minister Huot Hak thanked the EU for the initiatives and spoke highly of the “Our Tonle Sap” project implemented during Ambassador Driesmans’ tenure, focusing on protecting the lake and its surrounding ecosystem.

Both the Minister and Ambassador Driesmans shared the view that tourism plays a vital role in strengthening international relationships and fostering meaningful people-to-people exchanges.

By C. Nika