Belt and Road Initiative to boost tourism development: Cambodian minister

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said on Wednesday that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will greatly contribute to the development of tourism for all participating countries.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment, and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

"The Belt and Road Initiative will enhance connectivity, which is a great addition to the development of tourism," he said in a speech during the closing ceremony of the second national tourism forum on "China Ready" in Phnom Penh. "We support the initiative because we regard it as a win-win policy for all."

"Through the initiative, Cambodia's cooperation with China and other countries along the Silk Road would become closer, especially in economics, trade, investment, tourism and culture," he said.

Thong Khon said Cambodia needs to invest more in infrastructure such as roads, tourism ports, and airports in certain tourist destinations in order to attract more international tourists.

"I hope that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund will become major sources of capital for Cambodia and other countries in the development of tourism," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said tourism is among the priority cooperation sectors between China and Cambodia under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Under the initiative, I believe that more Chinese enterprises will come to invest in Cambodia's tourism industry," he said during the forum's closing ceremony.

Xiong said China will continue to support Cambodia's tourism development and will open a new consulate in northwestern Siem Reap province, the home of Angkor world heritage site, in the near future.