Launch of Cambodia-India direct flight for positive impact on all areas of cooperation

The first-ever direct flight service between Cambodia and India will "positively affect" all areas of cooperation between the two countries, and will boost tourism, trade and investment, Cambodian envoy Koy Kuong said on Monday. 

The ambassador said this in an exclusive interaction with sources on the sidelines of the launch of the "1st Cambodia-India Tourism Year 2024" here, a day after the starting of the flight service between Phnom Penh and New Delhi.

Cambodia's national flag carrier Cambodia Angkor Air began the service between the two countries from June 16. It will be available four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Overall, the direct flight, will not only improve the private sector but it will improve the public sector too. And, there will be more exchanges between government officials of India and Cambodia, when they fly easy and travel at a lower cost, the envoy said.

Many high-level and other important official visits have taken place between the two sides.

Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, visited India from May 29 to 31 in 2023 on his maiden State Visit, marking the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia in 1952.

This maiden State Visit by the King of Cambodia had taken place after almost six decades with the last one by his father King Norodom Sihanoauk in 1963.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had visited Cambodia in November 2022 to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 17th East Asia Summit.

While returning from Phnom Penh, he had also visited Siem Reap to review the preservation and restoration work being undertaken by India at Cambodian heritage sites.

Cambodia is home to the iconic Angkor Wat temple, built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. The world's largest religious structure marks the high point of Khmer architecture. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site too.

The '1st Cambodia-India Tourism Year 2024' was jointly launched by Long Phirum, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, and Manisha Saxena, Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism of India, with a beating of traditional drums on the dais.