AKP Phnom Penh, August 4, 2026 --

H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism received here on Aug. 3 H.E. Michel Parys, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of Cambodia, with residence in Bangkok, for a courtesy call and discussions on strengthening tourism cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting also touched on Belgium's participation in the Village Francophonie side event during the 20th Francophonie Summit to be hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh this November.

During the meeting, H.E. Huot Hak expressed his appreciation to the Government and people of Belgium for their continued support in promoting the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He also briefed the Ambassador on Cambodia's political, economic, social, and tourism situation, highlighting that the Kingdom remains a peaceful, safe, and welcoming destination for international visitors.

The Minister introduced the Ministry of Tourism's promotional campaigns, including Cambodia: Kingdom of Wonder, Feel the Warmth" and "Visit Cambodia in Green Season," which aim to attract more international tourists throughout the year.

H.E. Huot Hak also noted the growing number of Belgian visitors to Cambodia and the presence of Belgian investors in the Kingdom's hospitality sector, describing these as a strong foundation for expanding bilateral tourism cooperation.

The two sides discussed potential areas of collaboration, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation, the organisation of familiarisation (FAM) trips for tour operators, journalists, and content creators, the holding of a Cambodia-Belgium Tourism Investment Forum, and the promotion of business-to-business (B2B) partnerships to boost tourism and investment between the two countries.

For his part, H.E. Michel Parys reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between Cambodia and Belgium and highlighted cooperation across various sectors, including investment and people-to-people exchanges.

The Ambassador also confirmed that Belgium will send a high-level delegation to participate in the 20th Francophonie Summit and will join the Village Francophonie side event organised by Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism.

Cambodia and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1955 and resumed diplomatic ties in 1992. The two countries have since enjoyed more than three decades of renewed friendship and cooperation.

By Phal Sophanith