Background
The Government-Private Sector Forum’s Tourism Working Group (Working Group “B”) functions as a formal public–private coordination mechanism for tourism policy and sector recovery in Cambodia. The working group convenes ministry leaders, private-sector representatives and industry associations to review progress, compile private requests, and identify actionable measures to support tourism resilience.
On 1 August 2026 the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries signed a memorandum of understanding to promote Green Belts in tourism areas and strengthen agricultural production value chains. Cambodia’s tourism sector recorded a noticeable decline in international arrivals in the first half of 2026, a trend the meeting linked to several external and reputational challenges including technology-enabled scam crimes, Cambodia–Thailand border issues, and regional geopolitical tensions that have affected fuel prices and travel demand.
Key Developments
H.E. HUOT Hak, Minister of Tourism, presided over a progress review meeting of Working Group “B” on 4 August 2026. Approximately 150 participants attended, including Oknha Luu Meng as co-chair, senior ministry officials, representatives of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, tourism industry associations, private operators, and national and international guests.
The meeting reported that 22 recovery measures have been implemented to date and identified two recently completed measures highlighted by participants: the development of the Phnom Kulen area as a nature-based tourism destination, and the Green Belt cooperation MOU signed on 1 August 2026. Delegates also reviewed 11 specific requests from the private sector, which included proposals for visa exemptions for priority markets, establishment of a tourism development fund for destination branding and overseas promotion, upgrading major national events to international level, improving domestic air connectivity between tourism destinations, and measures to improve the investment environment for tourism businesses.
Institutional Role
The Tourism Working Group operates as a coordination platform that channels private-sector requests into cross-ministry discussions and action items. Meeting participants emphasized coordination needs with civil aviation authorities, airlines, and private stakeholders to implement several requests, especially proposals to expand direct air links from priority markets.
As an outcome of the session, participants proposed a set of urgent, concrete measures aimed at restoring international confidence in Cambodia’s tourism image, intensifying marketing and promotion, attracting major international events, and stimulating domestic tourism activity.
