Phnom penh: The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and private-sector representatives convened with aviation stakeholders on August 19 to deliberate on forming a high-level national taskforce aimed at aiding the recovery of Cambodia's tourism and aviation sectors.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting took place at the MoT under the leadership of H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Working Group (Group 'B'). The session included representatives from the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), private airlines, the International Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, private associations, institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.

H.E. Huot Hak highlighted that the meeting was a follow-up to the outcomes of the Tourism Working Group (Group 'B') meeting held on August 4, 2026. During this earlier meeting, the private sector presented two significant requests: first, to explore visa exemption policies for selected high-potential markets and extend the pilot visa exemption scheme for Chinese nationals until the year's end; second, to establish a special national-level mechanism to support tourism and aviation sector recovery while enhancing public-private coordination on related policies.

The Minister emphasized that the meeting offered a platform for open and constructive dialogue, aiming to identify practical solutions to boost Cambodia's tourism competitiveness and strengthen air connectivity. He underscored the interdependence of the tourism and aviation sectors, stating that they require close cooperation and cannot be addressed separately.

H.E. Huot Hak also stressed the importance of strong synergy and collective participation from the Royal Government, the private sector, airlines, airports, and all relevant stakeholders. The meeting demonstrated the shared commitment of the Royal Government and the private sector to tackle existing challenges, develop strategic directions to expand tourism markets, attract more international visitors, and improve air connectivity.