Chinese travel service provider Trip.com Group has signed an MoU with Cambodia Angkor Air to promote the construction of the new smart airport in Angkor.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to promote the construction of a smart airport, start a tourism talent training programme, and promote Cambodia as a key global destination.

Against the backdrop of the new Angkor International Airport, both parties will strengthen work in various tourism areas. By leveraging Trip.com Group’s global user network and product capacity, Cambodia Angkor Air can increase its global market reach and enhance its quality of services.

As part of the collaboration, Trip.com Group will improve Angkor International Airport’s digital and intelligent services, and help the airport become an essential smart airport in the region.

“The construction of the new Angkor International Airport is essential to Cambodia’s global tourism strategy,” said HE Tekreth Samrach, chairman of Cambodia Angkor Air. “We hope to grasp the opportunity of global tourism revival, and closely work with Trip.com Group to carry out comprehensive cooperation, from constructing smart airports to enhancing our services for more travellers.”

Xing Xiong, chief operating officer of Trip.com Group, added: “The construction of the new Angkor International Airport and the global travel revival will present tremendous opportunities for tourism in Cambodia. We’re excited to collaborate with Cambodia Angkor Air to support Cambodia in achieving its full global market potential and linking it with the international tourism industry.”

The MoU was signed by Yudong Tan, CEO of Trip.com’s flight business group, and David Zhan, CEO of Cambodia Angkor Air.

Both parties plan to embark on marketing campaigns and cooperation in hotel development, travel visa services and tourism talent training programmes in both countries. This will further strengthen Cambodia’s efforts towards becoming a globally competitive destination.

Angkor International Airport in Cambodia will be put into operation in October 2023, with projected passenger numbers of seven million people per year, which is expected to increase to ten million people per year by 2030.

China is one of the most significant sources of inbound tourism in Cambodia. It’s reported that, in 2019, Cambodia received 6.6 million foreign tourists, of which 2.4 million were Chinese tourists, accounting for about 36%. In 2023, the Cambodian government launched the China Ready strategy to attract more Chinese tourists.

With its rich tourism resources, Cambodia has quickly captured tourists from China and worldwide. As of mid-May 2023, the number of users from the Chinese mainland searching for Cambodian tourism products on Ctrip, a Trip.com sub-brand, increased by more than 233% compared with the same period last year.

Founded in 1999, Trip.com Group is a global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar. Across its platforms, it helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and a transaction platform consisting of apps, web sites and round-the-clock customer service centres.

Cambodia Angkor Air is the only national flag carrier invested in by the Cambodian government.