In the first 11 months of 2024, there were reportedly 400,000 Muslim tourist arrivals in Cambodia. This represents a 23 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Under the Ministry of Tourism, the Cambodian Muslim Tourism group hosted the country’s first Muslim Friendly Tourism Forum last year. It was themed, ‘The Beauty of Harmonisation and Muslim Friendly Tourism Destinations: Opportunities and Preparedness’.
The forum served as a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices in regard to promoting the growth of Muslim-friendly tourism in Cambodia. Additionally, the forum addressed its key challenges and discussed development opportunities.
The Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, Huot Hak, was present, alongside ambassadors and representatives of Islamic countries in Cambodia, senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism and other government agencies, and 396 deputy governors from provincial and municipal administrations.
Malaysian Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn, Maybank (Cambodia) Plc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Qazreen Chan Abdullah, Emirates Cambodia Country Manager Mohammed Al Qasim, Halal Park Cambodia Halal Strategic Development Director Alfien Lizan Khan, and Serva Travel Founder and Managing Director Savath Mao were also present.
This year, the Ministry of Tourism aims to attract more Muslim tourists to maintain a competitive edge in the Muslim-friendly tourism market. Hak called for active involvement from the private sector to diversify its tourism offerings.
He suggested doing so by organising tourism exchange programmes with Islamic countries and providing the necessary amenities and services like halal-certified restaurants and prayer rooms.
Besides improving services and developing infrastructure, this initiative will also focus on expanding promotional efforts, strengthening partnerships, and developing human resources to accommodate Muslim visitors better and make Cambodia a more attractive travel destination.
