(KPL) Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaketh met Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon in Vientiane on March 13.
The meeting aimed to strengthen tourism cooperation between Laos and Cambodia.
Both sides discussed the promotion of bilateral tourism through increasing air, water and land transport and tourism from third countries, community-based tourism development, eco tourism, and human resource development in the tourism industry.
Mrs Suansavanh said, “This meeting contributes to strengthening friendly relations and sound cooperation between the two ministries and the two countries, in particular”.
Mrs Suansavanh welcomed the Laos-Cambodia tourism cooperation plan 2023-2024, noting that the plan constitutes a significant contribution to development and promotion of tourism of the two countries and to attracting foreign tourists to Laos and Cambodia as well as foreign investment for tourism industry of the two neigbours.
The host minister called on relevant authorities to materialize agreements reached at the meeting, increase exchange of information on tourism, organize training for tourism officials at local and central levels of both countries, and promote capacity building on project proposal writing to ensure the two countries can mobilize more funding for tourism development from development partners and international organizations.
Cambodia Minister Thong Khon said that his visit materialized Prime Minister Hun Sen’s guidance that urges the two countries to promote tourism through various means including media promotion of tourism potentials in the two countries and opening direct flights between Laos and International airports in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap of Cambodia.
He also informed the host that Cambodia would host Southeast Asian Games 2023, a major event to promote sports tourism, and launch Visit Cambodia Year 2024. The Cambodian minister also expressed his intention to participate in ASEAN Tourism Minister Forum 2024 which will be hosted in Laos.
Source: Lao News Agency