SIEM REAP: The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Tourism, Hor Sarun, has said that hospitality is the first important factor in ensuring the warmth and satisfaction of tourists visiting Cambodia.

The Secretary of State made this remark at the opening ceremony of the seminar on "Good Hospitality, Safe Tourism" in Siem Reap on Thursday (7 April). He said, "To support the efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia to open international tourism and the Ministry of Tourism's focus on developing policies and strategies to ensure tourism sustainability, the "Good Hospitality, Safe Tourism” workshop was held today because it is an important first step in ensuring the warmth and satisfaction of tourists visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia."

He asked all participants to pay good attention to the field of hospitality, to welcome tourists with a friendly smile, be gentle, but also serious in the work to restore and promote tourism in Cambodia sustainably, with high quality, safety, and responsibility. This work is for the cause of further enhancing the prestige of Cambodia, under the theme "Cambodia: The Kingdom of Wonder, Providing Warmth", in order to become a world-class quality tourist destination that is reliable and attractive for tourists.

Tourism is considered by the Royal Government as a green gold sector that contributes to socio-economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. It is also an on-the-spot export, and plays an important role in the conservation of the environment and responding effectively to climate change.

By 2019, Cambodia's tourism sector had seen a significant increase, with an average international tourism growth rate of 12% per year before the Covid-19 pandemic began.