Cambodia aims to become an attractive global tourism destination and will welcome more Chinese tourists next year under a new exchange program, according to a Cambodian official.

"Our mission is to create a favorable environment for Cambodia to become a vibrant, competitive, sustainable, and inclusive destination," said Pak Sokhom, secretary of state (deputy minister) of Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, at the

Greater Bay Area Conference 2023 in Hong Kong on Nov 22.

Noting that Cambodia has set out a clear tourism development strategy and initiative, Pak said the kingdom welcomes tourists from China to visit and explore its rich art and culture.

Cambodia and China have designated 2024 as the "Year of Cambodia-China Tourism and Culture", the second after 2019, he added.

This year's conference, co-hosted by China Daily and Hong Kong Coalition, is themed "When GBA Meets ASEAN — One Heart and One Mind".

To explore the emerging opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and Association of Southeast Asian Nations, it comprises three panel discussions, focusing on green finance, the integration of green technology in daily life, and the preservation of art and culture for sustainable tourism.

Pak said the conference showcases the region's momentum and dedication to sustainable and inclusive tourism development.

He said it truly provides "a golden platform" for all the participants in the expansion of strategic tourism partnerships and is of the utmost importance for the stimulation development in Cambodian tourism.

"Cambodia … is rich in tangible and intangible cultural heritage," said Pak, noting the "Kingdom of Wonder" has thousands of ancient temples and pagodas.

Culturally, he added, it has over 20 kinds of theater, Khmer classic songs, and over 60 forms of poetry and Khmer literature, which date back thousands of years.

Many of these aspects have been inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization on its World Heritage List and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Notable inclusions include the Angkor Archeological Site, The Royal Ballet of Cambodia of the Khmer Classical Dance, and The Sacred Site of Preah Vihear Temple.

In addition to cultural heritage, Pak said Cambodia also boasts precious natural heritage with 12 national parks. Cambodia's coastline was included in UNESCO's Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club in 2011.

In the first 10 months of 2023, Cambodia received 4.41 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 179 percent, said Pak.

Pak said the ministry expects the number of international tourists to reach 5.4 million in 2023, 7 million by 2026, and about 16 million by 2035.

To preserve Cambodia's historical and cultural assets for sustainable tourism, the government has set out its Siem Reap Tourism Master Plan 2021-35, a vision to welcome 7 million international tourists and 11 million domestic tourists.

This will generate approximately 900,000 direct jobs and $5 billion in revenue by 2035, according to Pak.

To reach this vision, Siem Reap's provincial infrastructure has been renovated, said Pak, citing Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), inaugurated on Nov 16, as an example.

Funded by Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia) Co, an affiliate of China's Yunnan Investment Holdings, the 700-hectare airport was designed in the traditional Cambodian architectural style.

It will be able to handle 7 million air passengers annually from 2024 and up to 12 million passengers a year from 2040.

With a 3,600-meter-long runway, the SAI is currently Cambodia's biggest airport and is the main gateway to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.