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Cambodia and India have agreed to start direct flight connections and promote closer tourism exchanges and cooperation in all areas after the Covid-19 saga ends.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon and newly appointed Indian ambassador to Cambodia Devyani Uttam Khobragade.Khon said both countries had a long history of cultural and religious ties, with scores of Cambodians enjoying religious tours to holy sites across India prior to the pandemic. He asked India government to reschedule religious tour packages after Covid-19 cases had been “completely under control” to foster active tourism cooperation.
Khobragade stressed that a direct air route connecting both countries is one of her priorities and expressed her keenness to work with the ministry and others stakeholders to ensure it is success. Visits to ancient Khmer temples remain all the rage among Indians, he said, noting how closely related the religions that inspired their construction are with those of India. In the past, it is required to transit via Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia or South Korea. A direct flight not just saving time and money but will also help Cambodia reel in more tourists from India and its neighboring countries.
A memorandum of understanding between Cambodia and India that authorizes the rights to operate a direct flight was signed back in 2002, according to Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation spokesman Sin Chansereyvutha.
According to a report from the tourism ministry, 1,286,074 international tourists visited Cambodia in the first 11 months of last year, down 78.2 per cent from 5,898,130 in the corresponding period in 2019. Indians accounted for 12,869, marking an 80.2 per cent drop from the 65,077 tallied in the same period in 2019.
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