Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 8 – Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi has encouraged Cambodians to visit Japan and experience its renowned hospitality, known as omotenashi, which embodies the kindness and politeness of the Japanese people.
The ambassador spoke on 7 December 2024 at the Japan Tourism Fair 2024. The event was also attended by Tourism Minister Huot Hak, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization Bangkok Office Nakasugi Hajime, General Manager of AEON Mall Sen Sok City Kawakami Akio, and many other distinguished guests.
Ambassador Ueno Atsushi stated that the Japan Tourism Fair in Cambodia has been held annually since 2017, serving as a platform to promote various tourist destinations in Japan and encourage Cambodians to visit the country. He expressed his happiness at hosting the event for the sixth time this year, noting the large number of attendees.
The ambassador added that a section of the fair allowed participants to try on traditional Japanese clothing, known as yukata—a summer kimono—giving them the opportunity to experience a part of Japanese culture right in Phnom Penh.
At the same time, the ambassador underlined that as the number of foreign tourists to Japan continues to rise, experience-oriented tourism has gained popularity. Visitors can enjoy nature and explore the unique features of each region, including skiing on Japan's high-quality snow and climbing Mount Fuji. Through these tours, we promise you a wonderful and unforgettable experience in Japan.
On the occasion, Tourism Minister Huot Hak underlined that the organisation of this event reflects the strong commitment of the two governments to strengthening and expanding cooperation between Cambodia and Japan. This is evident through the launch of numerous strategic initiatives and the Ministry of Tourism’s collaborative efforts with inter-ministerial and sub-national administrative institutions, embassies and foreign missions in Cambodia, Cambodian embassies and consulates abroad, development partners, and, notably, the significant involvement of both domestic and foreign private sector stakeholders. These combined efforts have driven remarkable growth in Cambodia's tourism sector.
In the first ten months of 2024, Cambodia welcomed approximately 5.37 million international tourists, representing a 22 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among these, nearly 90,000 were Japanese tourists, marking a significant 34.6 per cent growth year-on-year.
Minister Huot Hak expressed his firm belief that the 6th Japan Tourism Fair will deepen understanding of Japanese culture, traditions, and tourism potential, contributing to stronger relations and cooperation in tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges between Cambodia and Japan. He highlighted that Cambodia remains a significant market for Japanese tourism.
The minister also wished for the bonds of solidarity, friendship, partnership, and strategic cooperation between Cambodia and Japan to grow ever stronger, fostering prosperity and enduring relations between the two nations and their peoples.
=FRESH NEWS
