The Angkor Wat temple complex, a tourist magnet in Siem Reap province, Cambodia (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA) - Cambodia recorded morethan 1 million tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday, according to itsMinistry of Tourism (MoT).
Theycomprised about 993,990 locals and 57,480 foreigners who travelled within thecountry during February 9-11, the ministry said, adding that the top fivetourist destinations were Preah Sihanouk province (nearly 300,000 visitors), followedby Siem Reap and Battambang provinces (over 100,000 each).
Ho Vandy, an advisor at the Cambodia Tourism Association, saidthat a considerable number of people in Cambodia have tended to go travellingduring holidays and weekends, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic eased.
He also pointed out a sharp rise in the number oftours to the country booked by Chinese during the Lunar New Year holiday, byabout 20-30% compared to last year’s holiday.
The MoT reported that Cambodia’s tourismsector earned more than 3 billion USD in 2023, surging 115% from the previous year’srevenue of 1.41 billion USD. The country welcomed 5.45 million international touristarrivals in 2023, up 140% from the 2.27 million in 2022.
Anticipating further tourism recovery this year,Cambodia hopes to attract the number of tourists equivalent to or exceeding therecord set in 2019, before the pandemic broke out, when it saw over 6.6 millioninternational tourists and earned nearly 5 billion USD in revenue, or about 12%of its GDP.
Tourism is one of the four pillars of the Cambodian economy./.
Cambodia is to launch a trial “e-Arrival Card” scheme for travelers to the kingdom, starting in 2024, which will replace the plethora of paper forms that are currently required on arrival, the country’s Ministry of Interior has announced.
Malaysia has set a target of welcoming 27.3 million foreign tourists in 2024, riding on the wave of optimism fueled by a series of strategic initiatives and the success of attracting over 20 million foreign tourists last year.
The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism hopes 6.2 million domestic and foreign tourists will make trips to the country in 2024, much higher than the initial target of 4.6 million set in late 2023.
The Thai Government on February 14 approved a scheme to offer visitors up to 500,000 THB (14,000 USD) in medical coverage in case of accidents and pay compensation of up to 1 million THB in case of death.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
The Angkor Wat temple complex, a tourist magnet in Siem Reap province, Cambodia (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
