PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, has announced that Chinese tourists can pay with Chinese yuan for all tourism services during their visits to Cambodia.

The Tourism Minister informed the media of this matter at the Phnom Penh International Airport while welcoming the first commercial flight of Chinese tourists to Cambodia this year on Tuesday morning, 7 February 2023.

The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism has expressed that it is ready to welcome Chinese tourists through the "China Ready" strategy, which will provide training to tourism services in Cambodia so that they can better facilitate Chinese tourists during their visits to the Kingdom, including allowing the use of Chinese currency in Cambodia.

"In particular, the Royal Government has allowed for payments to be made in yuan at all hotels, restaurants, and tourism services – all can receive yuan," said Minister Thong Khon.

The Chinese Government reopened its borders earlier this year allowing people to finally travel abroad again. The Cambodian Minister of Tourism has estimated that 800,000 to one million Chinese tourists will visit Cambodia this year, while the total number of international tourists expected to travel to Cambodia this year by water, land or air is at around three to four million.