‘Visit Cambodia Year 2023’ tourism campaign kicks off

One of the gates of Angkor Thom temple in Siem Reap province. - PPP

PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): The government issued a circular on a tourism campaign called “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” with a slogan “Every Day is A Wonder” to promote tourism and Cambodia while the Kingdom hosts its first historic SEA Games and Asean Para Games in May.

The goals of the campaign are to attract at least four million international tourists to visit Cambodia and to reach at least 15 million local visitors at tourist destinations in the country this year. It also aims to increase competitive advantage in the tourism sector post-Covid-19.

The message released on Feb 23 by Prime Minister Hun Sen said that “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” goes hand in hand with another campaign called “Cambodia Kingdom of Wonder — Feel the Warmth”. That campaign stands on four pillars: Heritage, culture, eco-tourism at beaches and “Khmerness”.

The circular instructed the tourism ministry to work with the Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) to promote the “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” using the games mascots which are the two rabbits named Borey (male) and Romdoul (female), as well as the upcoming Angkor Sangkran in April.

The promotion will be done through airlines, at international border checkpoints and entry points as well as at other important places.

The information ministry is also instructed to promote the campaigns through the media and the tourism ministry must work with relevant local authorities and tourism agencies to organise at least one international and local tourism event every month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is instructed to work with the tourism ministry to promote “Visit Cambodia Year 2023”, including considering issuing a special visa for this purpose.

“Cambodia Angkor Air must use the logo for “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” in their advertisements and encourage the use of this logo on the airplanes of national airlines as well as on the airplanes of other airlines flying to Cambodia,” the circular said.

All relevant ministries and state institutions must also join hands to promote this “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” by using the slogans for the campaign stated in the circular.