
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has recorded 4,268 visitors from Cambodia in 2024, which is seen as a sign of the growing potential for tourism exchange between the two countries.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Cambodia's Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Huot Hak, signed an Implementation Program on Feb. 11 to boost tourism cooperation for the 2025-2028 period.
The signing ceremony, held at Malacañan Palace, was attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who was on a two-day official visit to the Philippines.
The renewed agreement, which builds on a partnership that dates back to 2000, includes initiatives such as the exchange of tourism professionals, joint marketing campaigns, workforce training, and participation in international tourism fairs.
A Joint Working Group will oversee the program’s implementation, ensuring that both nations fully benefit from the partnership.
Marcos emphasized that the strengthened agreement would foster economic ties and deepen people-to-people exchanges, driving growth through tourism.
Manet underscored the importance of connectivity and tourism in further strengthening cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Cambodia.
The partnership aligns with the Philippines’ National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028, positioning the country as a regional tourism leader.
Frasco added that the agreement will enhance the Philippines’ global tourism partnerships, joining countries such as Japan, Brunei, and Qatar in advancing shared tourism goals.
This commitment follows a meeting between Frasco and Hak at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 in Malaysia, reaffirming both nations’ dedication to tourism-driven economic growth.