PhnomPenhPost-Aug 18, 2025 training Cambodia is working to diversify and broaden its international tourism market by seeking to capture the Muslim tourist segment — a market with significant potential that would supplement its current international tourism base, according to Minister of Tourism Huot Hak. During the August 18 opening ceremony of the “Hospitality for Muslim Tourists and the Cambodia Muslim-Friendly Standard” training course, held at the tourism ministry headquarters, to strengthen capacity, share knowledge and raise awareness about the importance of preparing and developing tourism business bases to welcome Muslim tourists. This initiative is designed to promote the growth of Muslim tourism, which adds significant value to the tourism sector, in line with the Muslim Tourism Development Plan (2023–2027). Hak added that according to the Global Muslim Travel Index report, the number of Muslim tourists worldwide reached approximately 176 million in 2024, an increase of 25 per cent compared to 2023 and an increase of 10 per cent compared to the pre-Covid-19 period. Moreover, the figure is expected to rise to 186 million in 2025.
“These figures clearly demonstrate Cambodia’s growing opportunities to seize and diversify its tourism markets, thereby strengthening and expanding the potential of Cambodia’s tourism industry toward inclusiveness, sustainability, resilience and prosperity through capturing the Muslim tourism market as a complement to existing markets,” he said.
He highlighted several key recommendations for the Muslim Tourism Task Force, including expediting the preparation of the Cambodia Muslim-Friendly Handbook as a guide for Muslim tourism hospitality. The minister also encouraged continued close cooperation with relevant institutions to organize more training courses, thereby equipping tourism businesses and stakeholders with deeper knowledge about Muslim tourism hospitality and the Cambodia Muslim-Friendly Standard. According to the tourism ministry, in the first half of 2025, Cambodia welcomed around 3.36 million international guests, a 6.2 per cent increase over the same period in 2024. Most international visitors came from the Asian region, especially Thailand, Vietnam, China and Laos. Read more at:
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-setting-sights-on-muslim-tourist-market
