(Phnom Penh): From 19-20 June 2025, Cambodia Airways and Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) carried out in a series of collaborative activities to promote the new Phnom Penh ⇌ Penang route. These efforts aim to support the “Visit Malaysia 2026” campaign and to strengthen cultural and tourism cooperation between Cambodia and Malaysia.
 
“VM2026 DESTINATION SEMINAR,B2B“ Session Highlighting the Kuala Lumpur and Penang Routes
 
On June 19, at the invitation of MOTAC, Cambodia Airways participated in the "VM2026 DESTINATION SEMINAR,B2B” Session held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Phnom Penh. During the event, the representative of MOTAC and staff of Cambodia Airways enthusiastically introduced the existing Phnom Penh ⇌ Kuala Lumpur route as well as the upcoming Phnom Penh ⇌ Penang route, which is set to launch on June 26. The new route attracted significant interest among travel agents and representatives from the tourism industry who attended the event.
 
“LAUNCHING OF VISIT MALAYSIA 2026” Spotlighting the Phnom Penh ⇌ Penang Route
 
At 6:00 PM on June 19, 2025, the official launching ceremony of “Visit Malaysia 2026” took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, hosted by MOTAC and the Embassy of Malaysia in Cambodia. The event was graced by the presence of YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia; Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism of Cambodia; and His Excellency Shaharuddin Onn, Ambassador of Malaysia to Cambodia. Jiang Yifei, Managing Director of Cambodia Airways, was invited to attend the event.
 
During his keynote speech, YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing emphasized the close geographical proximity and shared vision in history, culture, and sustainable development of tourism between Malaysia and Cambodia. “Tourism is one of the most powerful tools for economic growth, cultural understanding, and community empowerment. And with the world returning to travel with renewed enthusiasm, now is the time to position ourselves strategically,” he stated.  The Minister also officially announced that Cambodia Airways will inaugurate direct flights between Phnom Penh and Penang starting 26 June 2025, operating twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays.  “This important milestone will significantly enhance connectivity between our two countries and open new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange, especially in support of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.”
 
Following his remarks, the host invited YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Huot Hak, Shaharuddin Onn, Jiang Yifei and other honorable guests to the stage to jointly officiate the launch of “Visit Malaysia 2026.”
 
YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing leads a delegation to visit Cambodia Airways
 
At 10:00 AM on 20 June, YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, accompanied by Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn, visited the headquarters of Cambodia Airways. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Ms. Jiang Yifei and the airline’s management team. Both parties engaged in productive discussions aiming to strengthen cooperation in tourism and aviation.
 
In her welcome speech, Jiang Yifei expressed her sincere appreciation for the Minister and his delegation’s visit. She highlighted Cambodia Airways’ achievements on the Phnom Penh ⇌ Kuala Lumpur route and noted that the upcoming Penang service will serve as a new bridge for tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between Cambodia and Malaysia. She reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to expanding within the ASEAN market and contributing to the success of “Visit Malaysia 2026”, while expressing hope for the enduring friendship between the two nations.
 
Minister YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing highly praised Cambodia Airways for its strong performance and expressed his anticipation that the upcoming Penang route would inject fresh momentum into Malaysian tourism. “This route will provide more Malaysians with the opportunity to explore Cambodia’s rich culture and history, while also welcoming Cambodian travelers to experience the diversity of Malaysia,” he said.

He further proposed the development of a new model for regional tourism cooperation, leveraging Malaysia and Cambodia as strategic hubs to connect ASEAN with major source markets such as China and India.
 
The meeting concluded with agreement on several key areas, including joint marketing cooperation, route network expansion, and deeper cultural exchanges. MOTAC reaffirmed its high regard for the Cambodian tourism market and expressed its commitment to working closely with Cambodia Airways to develop tourism products and marketing strategies.
 
At the end of the meeting, Jiang Yifei and Minister YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing exchanged souvenirs and presented gifts to Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn and other representatives of MOTAC, laying the groundwork for further collaboration.
 
The launch of the Phnom Penh ⇌ Penang route marks a new chapter in aviation and tourism cooperation between Cambodia and Malaysia. It also brings momentum into the Visit Malaysia 2026 initiative. Moving forward, Cambodia Airways will continue to expand its international route network and enhance service quality, delivering more convenient, comfortable, and premium travel experiences to its passengers.
=FRESH NEWS