China a priority in travel bubble talks

China a priority in travel bubble talks

Government and tourism experts are in discussions about a travel bubble measure to attract tourists to Cambodia during the COVID-19 pandemic, with China a priority.

Thoun Sinan, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, who joined the internal discussion yesterday, said the government and private sector had differing views.

“We understand that China is the potential market, a country with purchasing power, but Thailand and Vietnam will also help the tourism sector in the region as well, so we want the government to open the borders with neighbouring countries,” he said.

However, he added the process is still in its infancy and there need to be talks government-to-government.

The possible implementing of so-called close-loop charter planes between Cambodia and China was raised by the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) yesterday.

COVID-19 has not affected Cambodia as much as other countries while it is expected the China economy will do well despite COVID-19.

The discussed measures include designing an attractive package approved by the MOT, appointing appropriate hotels and restaurants and transportation such as airlines and sending the list of travellers to all relevant parties.

They also require travellers and relevant parties to strictly follow the sanitation and protection measures as instructed by the Ministry of Health and arrange tour guides and insurance in Cambodia for all travellers.

The measures would keep in place the deposit of $2,000 for some expenses in case any travellers are tested positive for COVID-19.

The MOT yesterday also held a consultative workshop on a special tourism draft policy with the private sector to gather additional opinions on restoring the sector  within the current overall socio-economic framework.

Tith Chantha, the ministry’s secretary of state, said the policy will also promote Cambodia as a destination for safe tourism, warm hospitality and added value, as well as one of high socio-economic benefits.

Cambodia received more than 1 million international visitors and more than 7 million domestic visitors in the first nine months of 2020, according to figures from the MOT.

The figures show that more than 1.24 million international tourists visited Cambodia, a decrease of 74.1 percent compared with the same period last year while local visitors declined 51.9 percent because of the severe impact of COVID-19.

Cambodia expects to receive about 1.32 million international tourists this year, an 80 percent decrease from 2019. Tourism experts estimate that Cambodia’s tourism sector will return to normal under two scenarios of three years (2020-2023) and five years (2020-2025).

The country hopes to receive about 9 million domestic tourists, a decrease of 20 percent compared with 2019, while it will take up to three years for internal visitors to return to normal, reaching 11 million people in 2023, according to the MOT’s forecast.

Credited: Khmer Times