Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, officially opened a new airport on Monday in an effort to boost tourism and foreign investment in the country. The Techo International Airport, located in Kandal province about 30 kilometers south of the capital Phnom Penh, is a three-runway facility that replaces the 70-year-old Phnom Penh International Airport which only had one runway.
The new airport, which began operating in September, is a joint venture between the Cambodian government and the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp. With a total cost of $2 billion, it is expected to accommodate 13 million passengers initially, with plans for expansion to accommodate up to 30 million by 2030 and 50 million by 2050.
Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed hope that the new airport will attract more tourists and investors to Cambodia, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the country’s tourism industry has been negatively impacted by the recent death of a young South Korean man who was lured into working in one of Cambodia’s online scam centers. These centers operate as virtual slave labor, conducting online fraud that amounts to billions of dollars in organized crime. This issue was brought to the forefront last week when the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on a major Cambodian gang and its leader was indicted by a federal court in New York.
In addition to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and online scams, Cambodia also faced a five-day conflict with neighboring Thailand in July. While a ceasefire was eventually reached, tensions remain high between the two countries.
According to Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia received 4 million foreign tourists from January to August of this year, a significant decrease compared to the 6. 7 million received in 2019. This decline has been attributed to the various challenges faced by the country.
The Techo International Airport is the second major airport to open in Cambodia in the past two years, with the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opening in October 2019 to serve the popular tourist destination of Angkor Wat.
Overall, the new airport is seen as a positive development for Cambodia’s tourism and economic growth. With its modern facilities and increased capacity, it is expected to play a crucial role in attracting more visitors and investments to the country in the years to come.