Cruise Ships Shining Jewel In Cambodia’s Tourism Map

PHNOM PENH, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- The former rustic fishing village, with its waterways, has transformed into the vibrant Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, attracting international cruise ships and potentially reshaping Cambodia's tourism industry.

Cambodia’s main deep-sea port, perched in Sihanoukville province, in the southern part, is anticipating 20 cruise ships this year, an increase from 14 last year. 

Over 11,000 cruise passengers descended at the port in the first nine months of this year.

Sihanoukville province Vice-Governor Long Dimanche told Bernama the positive trend is primarily due to the country’s peace and stability driving the economy and the tourism sector.

“The well-developed and adequate infrastructures presented in the province including the availability of a deep sea port are crucial to enable dockings of big and small vessels alike, bringing in thousands of cruise tourists from many countries.

“The province has also intensified its effort to promote maritime route linkage between islands off Sihanouk province and the nearby islands of Thailand and Vietnam under the forthcoming Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Economic Corridor,” said Dimanche. 

The arrivals are minuscule compared to its ASEAN neighbours, such as Penang Island in Malaysia which is expecting 65 cruise ships this year while Thailand’s popular Phuket receives nearly 200 annually. But the growing numbers are promising, say industry experts.

Oceania Cruises Vice President of International Sales Jason Worth, said Cambodia and the Southeast Asia region have huge growth potential in cruise tourism. 

“We are definitely seeing more demand from Asian travellers looking to book an ultra-premium cruise holiday with Oceania Cruises. “Sihanoukville is featured as a port of call on many of our Southeast Asian itineraries. The port is a perfect stop to sample the Cambodian coast’s natural beauty and diverse culture.

“What’s great about this port is that guests have the most idyllic beaches and snorkelling opportunities, as Sihanoukville sits on the beautiful island-studded Bay of Thailand. Wats or Buddhist temples, are abundant, as seen at Wat Otres behind Otres Beach,” Worth said in an email interview. 

Cambodia is witnessing a spike in tourism arrival post-COVID-19, which clipped the sector’s growth and damaged tourism dollars, a vital revenue source for the economy. 

According to the Cambodian Tourism Ministry, nearly 4.3 million tourists arrived in Cambodia in the first eight months of this year. About 5.5 million foreigners visited the Kingdom last year generating nearly  RM13.3 billion (US$3 billion).

Globally, the cruise industry is emerging as a major contributor to economies and job creation.

The “2024 State of the Cruise Industry Report” highlights the sector's significant economic contribution, despite representing only two per cent of international travel. 

In 2022, the industry generated RM610 billion (US$138 billion) and supported 1.2 million jobs worldwide.

“We have strong and positive optimism about the growth of cruise tourism in the province. We look forward to welcoming more tourist vessels.

“In complementing its ambition of becoming the Model Multi-purpose Special Economic Zone of Cambodia, Sihanoukville province aims to develop the port into a fully equipped hub for welcoming standard tourist cruises, positioning the country as a leading sea cruise destination rather than merely a secondary stopover,” said Dimanche.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Vice President Sales and General Manager, Asia Pacific, Lisa Pile told Bernama that Cambodia is a fascinating cruise destination with the beach-rimmed resort city sitting on the beautiful island-studded Bay of Thailand. 

Serendipity Beach is a mile-long stretch of white sand that is the island’s prettiest. 

“Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ guests are discerning travellers, with a continued quest for deeper destination immersion in the countries and ports of call that they visit around the world. Sihanoukville has lots to offer. 

“Visit Wat Lu Pagoda to see a stone statue of a three-headed elephant with a statue of Buddha atop each head. There are even two wats (monasteries) in Ream National Park, a birdwatcher's paradise. 

“On a tuk-tuk ride through the provincial capital, pass the Golden Lions Monument on your way to Phsar Leu (Sihanoukville market) in the heart of downtown,” she said.

-- BERNAMA