AFP
PHNOM PENH - 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 on Tuesday.
The country's last national carrier, Royal Air Cambodge, was shuttered in 2001 after running up losses of US$45.7 million.
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,' Mr 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 Mr 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 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.
But a national carrier would also help promote Cambodia's tourism potential, as well as encourage visitors to remain longer in the country, travel industry officials say.
Domestic air routes are expected to prove vital to developing some of Cambodia's more remote locations, as well as encouraging travelers to seek sights beyond the famed Angkor temples in north-west Cambodia which remain its most popular tourist draw.
'National carriers are an important tool for promoting destination tourism for any country,' said Ho Vandy, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents.
'The private sector is glad to hear this news - we have long expected to see Cambodia with its own airline,' he added.
The country's last national carrier, Royal Air Cambodge, was shuttered in 2001 after running up losses of US$45.7 million.
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,' Mr 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 Mr 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 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.
But a national carrier would also help promote Cambodia's tourism potential, as well as encourage visitors to remain longer in the country, travel industry officials say.
Domestic air routes are expected to prove vital to developing some of Cambodia's more remote locations, as well as encouraging travelers to seek sights beyond the famed Angkor temples in north-west Cambodia which remain its most popular tourist draw.
'National carriers are an important tool for promoting destination tourism for any country,' said Ho Vandy, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents.
'The private sector is glad to hear this news - we have long expected to see Cambodia with its own airline,' he added.
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