Cambodia expects to receive 2 million tourists in 2007

Cambodia expects to receive 2 million tourists in 2007, local media reported on Thursday.
"We hope, based on predictions, that the number of tourists to Cambodia will grow to two million in 2007," Tourism Minister Lay Prohas was quoted by the Koh Santepheap as saying during a ministerial conference.

Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay was quoted as saying that "We should advertise more broadly to attract tourists to our country, and motivate them to stay longer, travel further and spend more money, and we can do so depending on good security and a clean environment.

These factors are dependent on officials of local authorities across the country's 24 municipalities and provinces," In 2006, Cambodia received about 1.7 million tourists, generating approximately 250,000 jobs and 1.05 billion U.S. dollars in revenues, reported the Reach Seima News.

Cambodia's tourist arrivals increased nearly 20 percent last year compared to 2005, which witnessed almost 1.5 million visitors. Tourism and garment production are the major foreign exchange earners for Cambodia.