On 19 and 21 April 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) respectively met in Manila and Phnom Penh with the Honorable Mae Elaine T. Bathan, Undersecretary of Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines, and H.E. Tith Chantha and H.E. Thong Rathasak, Secretaries of State of the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun said that ASEAN and China are both important tourist sources and destinations for each other. The ACC has always attached great importance to promoting tourism exchanges and cooperation between both sides, in the purpose of contributing more to recovering the regional tourism industries in the post-pandemic era through quality tourist destination promotion and capacity building for practitioners. Taking into consideration new circumstances and features of tourism industries at present, the ACC stands ready to bring into full play its role as a linking bridge and cooperation platform, and work with the Philippines, Cambodia and other ASEAN Member States (AMS) towards a strengthened bonds of friendship and enhanced people-to-people exchanges between AMS and China.

Undersecretary Bathan noted that tourism cooperation between the Philippines and China enjoys solid foundation, wide ranges and great potential. In the post-pandemic era, DOT stands ready to coordinate resources from all parties concerned and continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with the ACC in such areas as E-visa for tourists, 24/7 call center of tourist services, market-oriented research, destination promotion, holiday marketing, E-payment promotion, and Chinese language training for practitioners, so as to create and provide more convenient, safe and quality tourist-friendly conditions and travel experience for Chinese tourists returning to the Philippines, and build a model of tourism cooperation and exchanges between AMS and China.

Secretary of State Tith Chantha said that tourism industry, helping attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and stimulate infrastructure upgrading, represents one of the significant pillars of the Cambodian economy. A speedy and quality rebound of tourism industry in post-pandemic era really has bearings on Cambodia’s national development and well-beings of its people. Before the COVID-19, one out of every three foreign tourists to Cambodia came from China. It is well expected that, through the joint efforts on both sides, Cambodia-China tourism cooperation could soon embark on the normal track, produce quality cooperation and benefit the two countries and peoples. The Cambodian side is willing to share resources and continue working with the ACC in such areas as training Chinese-speaking guides, R&D on quality tourism products, more media exposure of destinations, and tapping tourism-related investment opportunities.