PHNOM PENH (Thomson Financial) - Cambodia hopes to establish a national airline in the near future in a bid to take advantage of rising regional tourism, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday.
The country's last national carrier, Royal Air Cambodge, was shuttered in 2001 after running up losses of 30 million dollars.
Since then, several other domestic airlines have failed to get off the ground, allowing at least 10 foreign carriers free reign to take advantage of lucrative tourist routes both within Cambodia and abroad.
'I am waiting for more negotiations, but don't let this carrier end up like Royal Air Cambodge,' Hun Sen said at a meeting between the private sector and government officials.
It is unclear when a new airline might be formed, or by whom, but Hun Sen said talks were underway between the government and prospective airline companies.
The premier downplayed the effect losing Cambodia's national carrier had on tourism, which remains one of the few sources of revenue in the impoverished country.
Some 1.7 million visitors came to Cambodia in 2006, and the country looks set to surpass that total this year, according to tourism officials.
The country's last national carrier, Royal Air Cambodge, was shuttered in 2001 after running up losses of 30 million dollars.
Since then, several other domestic airlines have failed to get off the ground, allowing at least 10 foreign carriers free reign to take advantage of lucrative tourist routes both within Cambodia and abroad.
'I am waiting for more negotiations, but don't let this carrier end up like Royal Air Cambodge,' Hun Sen said at a meeting between the private sector and government officials.
It is unclear when a new airline might be formed, or by whom, but Hun Sen said talks were underway between the government and prospective airline companies.
The premier downplayed the effect losing Cambodia's national carrier had on tourism, which remains one of the few sources of revenue in the impoverished country.
Some 1.7 million visitors came to Cambodia in 2006, and the country looks set to surpass that total this year, according to tourism officials.
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