VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The third meeting of the Cambodia-Laos Joint Tourism Working Group on tourism cooperation and the Cambodia-Laos Tourism Business to Business (B2B) Forum took place in Siem Reap, Cambodia, this week.
The meeting identified and discussed potential joint activities and initiatives to further enhance bilateral tourism cooperation under the action plan for 2023-2024.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Director General of the Tourism Marketing Department of Laos’ Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Phouthone Dalalom; Cambodia’s Secretary of State Dr Thok Sokhom; Deputy Governor of Siem Reap province, Mr Ing Kimleang; and the Director General of Tourism Development, International Cooperation, Dr Chuk Chumno.
Business leaders from the two countries also engaged in discussions.
Mr Phouthone noted that Laos and Cambodia have a very close and long relationship in general, and particularly in the field of tourism.
Tourism is a crucial aspect of the Cambodian and Lao economies. It generates huge amounts of revenue for use in the two countries’ development process and provides job opportunities for local people, he said.
The meeting was a good opportunity for Cambodia and Laos to strengthen their cooperation and find more ways to implement shared tourism activities.
At the same time, businesses can make useful contacts and set up joint tour programmes, Mr Phouthone said.
“I believe that this meeting will be another pivotal milestone in our relationship and further strengthen cooperation in the field of tourism,” he added.
Participants expressed appreciation for the continuing cooperation in tourism and discussed how best to fulfil the aims of the Cambodia-Laos Joint Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation for 2023-2024.
The action plan was adopted by Cambodian and Lao tourism ministers and consists of four main areas of cooperation, namely travel facilitation and border crossing, human resource development and capacity building, marketing, and the development of tourism products and linkages. - Vientiane Times/ANN
