Both France and Iran have expressed a wish to connect flights with Cambodia and expand tourism cooperation in other areas with the Kingdom to restore the country's travel business to pre-pandemic levels.

On February 21, the two countries' interests were stated during separate talks between their ambassadors and Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, during which they emphasized their willingness to develop increased tourism collaboration with the Kingdom

"We encourage the Royal Government of Cambodia in developing this tourism collaboration to set an example for other member nations," said Pellet Jacques, the recently appointed French ambassador. It is a contribution to progress [on all sides], particularly on behalf of Cambodia as the ASEAN chair."

To enhance tourist visits, Khon advocated expanding the number of direct flights between France and Cambodia.

He outlined intentions to meet with French tour companies to discuss measures to "restore and enhance" Cambodian tourism. He also mentioned the large number of French traders that are now operating in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, according to Khon, Cambodia is poised to attract Muslim travelers, has launched a slew of Islam-friendly policies aimed at boosting investment and tourism.

He requested assistance from his Iranian counterparts in researching an impending direct Cambodia-Iran flight. Both parties looked at the feasibility of multi-stop flights connecting Iran to Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia, with a stop in Cambodia in between.

And Ali Akbar Nazari, the Iranian ambassador to Cambodia, approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation between the two nations, which the Kingdom had suggested.

"Both sides will organize for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in the tourism sector and a Memorandum of Understanding in sports at the same time, with the signing ceremony taking place in Iran," he stated.

The meeting between the tourism minister and the French ambassador, according to Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) president Chhay Sivlin, might assist revive the Kingdom's sluggish tourist sector, which she says is mainly reliant on the French.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she claimed, Cambodia got roughly 200,000 tourists from Europe each year.