(Phnom Penh) — Tourism Minister Huot Hak said Cambodia remains a peaceful, safe and welcoming destination for international tourists. He made the remarks during a courtesy call and working discussion with Michel Parys, Belgium’s ambassador to Cambodia, at the Ministry of Tourism on August 3, 2026.
During the meeting, Huot Hak praised the Belgian government and people for continuing to strengthen friendship and cooperation with Cambodia. He also briefed the ambassador on Cambodia’s political, economic, social and tourism situation.
The minister reiterated that Cambodia continues to offer international visitors peace, safety and warm hospitality. He also highlighted the campaigns “Cambodia: Kingdom of Wonder, Feel the Warmth” and “Visit Cambodia in Green Season”, aimed at attracting more international tourists.
Huot Hak noted the significant presence of Belgian visitors and Belgian investors in Cambodia’s hospitality sector, describing this as a basis for strengthening and expanding bilateral tourism cooperation. Areas discussed included exploring a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation; organising familiarisation trips (FAM trips) for tour operators, journalists and content creators; holding a Cambodia–Belgium Tourism Investment Forum; and encouraging business-to-business (B2B) cooperation to attract investment and increase tourist exchanges between the two countries.
In response, the ambassador highlighted the two countries’ strong cooperation across several sectors, including investment by Belgian citizens and the presence of Belgian residents in Cambodia. With Cambodia due to host the 20th Francophonie Summit that November, he said the Belgian government would send an important delegation to participate in Village Francophonie, a side event organised by Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism.
Cambodia and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1955 and resumed them in 1992, more than 34 years before this report.
By: ធី លីថូ
