Siem Reap: On the evening of Thursday, 4 June 2026, a delegation of Russian tourism representatives, consisting of executives and representatives from major Russian travel companies, arrived in the Kingdom of Cambodia and received a warm welcome from H.E. Neang Mao, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism, representing H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism.
This inaugural visit by the Russian tourism delegation, which also included several well-known Russian influencers, was organised under the coordination of Mr Vladimir Palancica, Director of Lotus Group, Chairman of BRICS House Cambodia, and Founder of AVB Holiday Adventure, in cooperation with Ms Khek Khemrath, Chief Executive Officer of K-Jet Group, one of Cambodia’s leading private aviation and private jet service providers.
On this occasion, H.E. Neang Mao, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism, stated that the arrival of this first group of Russian tourists represents a positive sign for Cambodia’s tourism sector and demonstrates the growing confidence of international travellers in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
He further emphasised that the government of Cambodia is placing strong attention on developing a tourism sector that is high-quality, safe, and welcoming for international visitors. H.E. Neang Mao also expressed support for the cooperation between the private sector and the Ministry of Tourism in promoting Cambodia to the Russian and international tourism markets, considering this an important step toward attracting high-spending tourists and contributing to national economic growth.
This first visit is regarded as an important milestone in strengthening relations between Cambodia and Russia, particularly in the areas of tourism, investment, and cultural exchange. Russian tourists have increasingly begun to recognise and show interest in Cambodia following their travels to Vietnam and Thailand.
This positive outcome followed an official meeting earlier in 2026 between Mr Vladimir Palancica and Ms Khek Khemrath with H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, to discuss strategies and directions for attracting Russian tourists and investors to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Mr Vladimir Palancica, who has many years of experience in the international tourism industry, stated that Cambodia holds strong potential to attract Russian tourists due to its rich tourism resources, including magnificent ancient temples, beautiful coastal destinations, a peaceful atmosphere, safety, and the warm hospitality of the Cambodian people, which is comparable to other destinations in Southeast Asia.
Russian tourists are considered high-spending travellers who prefer premium-quality services such as wellness tourism, spa services, beach resorts, long-stay accommodations, and private and luxury tourism experiences. On average, they travel for five to seven days, while some may stay from one to two months, significantly contributing to revenues in the hotel, restaurant, transportation, local handicraft, and broader tourism sectors.
The Government of Cambodia has also been actively supporting the expansion of international tourism markets through open policies, incentives for foreign investors, development of tourism infrastructure, and strengthened cooperation with international partners. Cambodia is also focusing on promoting high-quality tourism and attracting high-spending visitors from emerging markets, including Russia.
On the same occasion, Mr Vladimir Palancica, CEO of AVB Holiday Adventure, and Ms Khek Khemrath, Managing Director of KJET Group, expressed their sincere gratitude to H.E. Neang Mao for honouring the occasion by participating in the welcome ceremony for the first Russian tourist group arriving with both companies in Siem Reap Province, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Both companies also reaffirmed their commitment to continue cooperating with the Ministry of Tourism and relevant institutions to further promote Cambodia’s tourism sector to the Russian and international markets in the future.
Photo by: Supplied
