NEWS: The Walk Street is opened every Saturday and Sunday from 18:00 to 23:00 along Preah Sisowath Quay, from Baksey Chamkrong Street (Street 94) to in front of the Royal Palace in Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh.
NEWS: Cambodia’s tourism sector earned a total revenue of US$3.63 billion in 2024, up 17.8 percent from US$3.08 billion a year earlier, said a report from the Ministry of Tourism released on Jan. 31.
The Kingdom received 6.7 million international tourists last year, up 22.9 percent from 5.45 million in the year before, the report added.
This Southeast Asian country launched the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year last month, hoping that the initiative would be a catalyst for increased tourism and investments.
Thailand was the largest source of foreign tourists to the Kingdom in 2024, the report said, pointing out that the country welcomed 2.14 million Thai visitors last year, up 17.9 percent from 1.82 million in a year earlier.
Vietnamese and Chinese tourists ranked second and third of the country’s tourism market list with 1.34 million and 0.84 million, respectively.
Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy. The country has four world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap northwestern province, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in Kampong Thom central province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker archaeological site in Preah Vihear northern province.
Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching in the length of about 450 km in four southwest provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong.
H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, said that the ministry has set a strategic plan in targeting to attract up to 7.2 million or 7.5 million foreign tourists in 2025.
“The ministry will prioritise key tasks, including developing a detailed action plan, ensuring the plan is carried out effectively and responsibly, and continuously monitoring and assessing tourist arrivals, with the ambition to attract more foreign tourists to Cambodia,” he said.
NEWS: Cambodia’s Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra has encouraged officials of the Oddar Meanchey Provincial Information Department to serve as a strong Secretariat for the provincial administration in the field of information and public opinion.
He urged them to remain vigilant in verifying false information and to swiftly counter and prevent the spread of fake news on social media that could impact stability, public order, and security in the province and across the country.
The minister made these remarks during a meeting on Jan. 30 afternoon where he extended his greetings and presented honorary medals and certificates of appreciation to the leadership and officials of the Oddar Meanchey Provincial Information Department in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
H.E. Neth Pheaktra encouraged the department’s information and public relations teams to continue producing and disseminating more news highlighting the province’s potential. This, he said, would provide the public with comprehensive information while also countering misinformation.
H.E. Minister urged them to focus on producing positive content that showcases the achievements of the provincial administration and the efforts of relevant institutions in serving the people across all sectors. He also highly praised the department for its significant achievements in 2024, particularly in managing information and public relations within the province.
NEWS: Out of the 89 species detected by camera traps in Virachey National Park, about 19 are categorised as globally threatened on the IUCN Red List, according to a new biodiversity survey report released recently. Among them, there are 3 critically endangered, 3 endangered and 13 vulnerable. Moreover, 5 other species are near threatened.
Notable species included the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac Muntiacus vuquangensis, an elusive species endemic to the Annamites. These records included the first known image of a juvenile.
Other significant threatened species recorded included red-shanked douc langur Pygathrix nemaeus, gaur Bos gaurus, dhole Cuon alpinus, clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Asiatic black bear Ursus thibethanus, Malayan sun bear Helarctos malayanus, Sunda pangolin Manis javanica and the ground-dwelling Germain’s peacock-pheasant Polyplectron germaini.
This information is based on 33,800 camera trap images. A total of 7,209 independent events were recorded. Of these records, 2,591 could not be identified beyond family and were excluded from the species richness calculations.
The remaining 4,618 records were comprised of 89 species: 41 mammals, 46 bird and 2 reptile species. A further 4 genera were detected and included in richness estimates that could not be identified to species level 2 birds and 2 mammals. Species richness varied between camera stations, from 2 to 31 species recorded.
Virachey National Park is a relatively understudied protected area in Northeast Cambodia, within the Siem Pang district, Stung Treng province, and Veun Sai, Taveng and Andong Meas districts in Rattanakiri province.
As a south-western extension of the Annamite Mountain range, the park is a key habitat for endemic flora and fauna not found in wider Cambodia, and despite relatively high levels of historic logging, remains a key biodiversity refuge. The park represents one of only two ASEAN Heritage Parks in the country.
Virachey National Park was established in 1993 by a Royal Decree, encompassing 332,500 ha. A subsequent contiguous Biodiversity Conservation Corridor was established by a Sub-Decree in 2018. In July 2023, likewise by Sub-Decree, the corridor was rezoned into Virachey National Park and is now part of the park, increasing the protected area to 405,766 ha.
A number of Indigenous groups live in and around the park including the Brao, Kavet, Kreung, Jarai and Kachork minorities, numbering approximately 35,000 people.
NEWS: H.E. SUON Prasith, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations (Economy and Trade) in Geneva, in his capacity as the outgoing Chair of the Group of 77 and China (Geneva Chapter), has officially handed over the chairmanship to Mr. Cristóbal MELGAR PAZOS, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Peru, for the 2025 mandate.
The official handover ceremony, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland on Jan. 28, was also attended by Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD, representing Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, along with members of the Group of 77 and China.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the Group of 77 and China is the largest negotiating group within the United Nations system, currently comprising 134 member countries. The Cambodian delegation assumed the duties of Vice-Chair of the Group of 77 and China (Geneva Chapter) on Nov. 23, 2022 and took over the chairmanship on Jan. 30, 2024. During its tenure, the Cambodian delegation represented the Group in approximately 95 meetings and negotiations, including facilitating the Group’s inputs into discussions at the United Nations in New York.
Additionally, it led discussions and established three working groups: the Working Group on Digital Economy and Digitalisation for Development, the Working Group on Financing for Development, and the Working Group on Climate Change, Trade, and Sustainable Development.
Moreover, the Cambodian delegation successfully coordinated the 60th anniversary of the Group’s establishment on Sept. 13, 2024, organising high-level dialogues, adopting a joint ambassadorial statement, and issuing a press release. In preparation for the UNCTAD XVI Ministerial Conference scheduled for October 2025, Cambodia also led and coordinated internal discussions and negotiations to establish a common position for participation in the conference negotiations.
On this occasion, the Deputy Secretary-General expressed his appreciation and recognition of the Cambodian delegation for its visionary leadership and commitment. He also reaffirmed his support for the Group in the upcoming Ministerial Conference negotiations and its dedication to upholding multilateralism for trade and development.
In addition to the commitment of the incoming Chair from the Peruvian delegation, coordinators from various regional groups—including the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the Asia-Pacific Group (APG), the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), the Arab Group, and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—as well as many other member states, participated in the event. They delivered remarks praising and highly appreciating the Cambodian delegation’s leadership of the Group of 77 and China. Despite Cambodia’s status as a least-developed country, it successfully led the Group to many remarkable achievements and outcomes during its term.
