Hun Manet Pushes for Digital Transformation in Cambodia's Tourism Sector

Prime Minister Hun Manet has emphasized the need for Cambodia's smaller tourism operators, including artisans and community-based businesses, to enhance their digital presence and capabilities to attract more visitors and generate broader economic benefits for local communities.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of data-driven decision-making among the country's tourism officials.

In a statement issued on September 23 ahead of World Tourism Day on September 27, Manet highlighted that micro, small, and medium-sized tourism ventures—many of them family-run—must be integrated into the sector's ongoing digital evolution.

"Boosting digital skills and online marketing will open up new business pathways, raise earnings, and generate employment," he stated.

He advocated for making information about Cambodia's tourist sites, cultural assets, artistic traditions, cuisine, and community-based tourism offerings accessible through digital channels to facilitate faster engagement with both local and global audiences.

These remarks come as Cambodia's tourism sector faces significant challenges. During the first seven months of this year, the country recorded 1,997,821 international arrivals—a sharp 46.2 percent decline compared to the same timeframe in the previous year, according to tourism ministry data.

The ministry noted, however, that domestic tourism showed resilience, with 23,802,124 visits to local destinations during the same period, representing a 47.6 percent increase. These figures track visits rather than unique travelers.

This year's World Tourism Day carries the theme "Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism."

Manet observed that emerging digital technologies and artificial intelligence are fundamentally reshaping how tourists select destinations, organize itineraries, make reservations, process payments, and document their journeys.

He pointed out that these same technologies offer tourism officials powerful tools for examining market patterns, controlling visitor distribution, and basing policy choices on solid evidence.

To leverage these innovations effectively, Cambodia must strengthen its digital literacy, enhance service delivery, and upgrade its connectivity infrastructure, the prime minister added.

Manet also cautioned about potential downsides of rapid digitalization, including disparities in technology access, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, threats to individual privacy and data protection, and the spread of misinformation.

He emphasized that digital tools and artificial intelligence must be deployed in ways that prioritize safety, transparency, accountability, and human welfare.

Despite championing technological adoption, Manet maintained that Cambodia's cultural character remains the core of its tourism appeal.

He noted that the nation's warm hospitality, time-honored customs, historical sites, and scenic landscapes are inherent strengths that technology can amplify but never substitute.

Moving forward, the government will continue focusing on digital infrastructure development, human capital training, destination enhancement, and service standards as part of its strategy to draw greater numbers of both domestic and international tourists, he concluded.