AKP Phnom Penh, November 27, 2025 --​ Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism directly appealed to Chinese social media creators on Thursday, urging them to help reshape the country’s international image and counter what he described as inaccurate and damaging media reports.

Speaking at the Cambodia-China Tourism Forum 2025, Minister Huot Hak called on the digital creators to act as "firsthand witnesses" and promote Cambodia as a peaceful, secure, and welcoming destination for global travellers.

“Cambodia today is living in peace and stability, a reality clearly visible to anyone who visits,” H.E. Huot Hak stated in his address. “This does not align with the exaggerated or inaccurate reports that seek to undermine Cambodia’s image.”

He emphasised that the secure environment and steady development are facts that visitors can directly observe. “As living witnesses, we hope you will help convey the truth about Cambodia as a safe, friendly, and hospitable destination,” he added.

The forum, themed “Seizing Opportunities in the Chinese Tourism Market Toward Building a Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future,” underscores the strategic importance of Chinese tourists to Cambodia's economy. The minister highlighted the designated Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025-2026 as a key initiative to deepen bilateral ties through tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

To capitalise on this, Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced an ambitious calendar of events. Scheduled for late 2025 are the Cambodia-China International Tourism Music Festival and a tourism business matching forum, both to be held in Siem Reap.

For 2026, the ministry has planned six flagship activities, including: A Street Art Performance Festival; A Mixed Martial Arts Festival; A Gastronomy Tourism Promotion event; A Film Tourism initiative; A cross-border Caravan Tour; A Green Season Tourism Roadshow targeting the Chinese market.

Echoing the commitment to collaboration, Mr. Chen Cong, Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, affirmed tourism's role as a "vital pillar for economic development and an important bridge for cultural exchange." He pledged the embassy’s continued close cooperation with Cambodian authorities to achieve "new, tangible results" in bilateral tourism, reinforcing the broader Cambodia-China partnership.

Article in Khmer by Khuht Sao
Article in English by K. Rithy Reak