(Phnom Penh): Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi pledged to promote Cambodia's tourism potential in Japan and proposed exploring visa-free entry for Japanese travellers as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation.

The proposal was made during a farewell courtesy call on Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak at the Ministry of Tourism in Phnom Penh on Thursday (Jul. 9), marking the completion of Ambassador Ueno Atsushi's diplomatic mission.

During the meeting, the ambassador expressed his sincere appreciation for the close cooperation extended by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Ministry of Tourism throughout his tenure. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to further strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in tourism, human resource development, tourism promotion, and people to people exchanges.

Drawing on his firsthand experience travelling to all provinces and cities across Cambodia, Ueno Atsushi pledged to actively promote Cambodia’s tourism potential to the Japanese public. He also proposed exploring the possibility of granting visa exemptions for Japanese tourists travelling to Cambodia.

In response, Minister Huot Hak expressed his profound gratitude to the government and people of Japan, as well as the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, for their continued support for Cambodia’s national development and tourism sector.

He highly appreciated Ambassador Ueno Atsushi’s dedication and significant contributions to strengthening the longstanding friendship and fruitful cooperation between Cambodia and Japan, particularly in the field of tourism, throughout his diplomatic mission.

On the occasion, the minister emphasised that Cambodia remains a safe, secure, and welcoming tourism destination, renowned for its warm hospitality and fully prepared to receive visitors from Japan and around the world.

He also called for Japan’s continued support in promoting Cambodia’s tourism potential, facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation between the two countries, expanding direct air connectivity, supporting tourism human resource development, and organizing familiarization (FAM) trips for Japanese tour operators, media representatives, content creators, and investors to experience Cambodia’s tourism offerings firsthand.

In closing, the minister once again thanked the government and people of Japan for being one of Cambodia’s most valued development partners. He reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to further deepen and broaden their excellent and mutually beneficial cooperation for the prosperity of both nations and their peoples.

Cambodia and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1953 and have since elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Tourism cooperation has continued to strengthen through initiatives supported by the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), focusing on human resource development, tourism promotion, and sustainable tourism.
=FRESH NEWS