STORY: Chinese-invested airport in Cambodia's tourist hub expected to boost tourism
DATELINE: Oct. 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:45
LOCATION: SIEM REAP, Cambodia
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Siem Reap Angkor International Airport
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SINN CHANSEREY VUTHA, Cambodian State Secretariat of Civil Aviation's Undersecretary of State
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): RA SAMBO, Souvenir shop manager
4. various of shops and markets in Siem Reap

STORYLINE:

Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province commenced operations on Monday.

Covering a parcel of 700 hectares, the airport is about 40 kilometers from the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archeological Park.

With a 3,600-meter runway, the 4E-level international airport can accommodate long-distance flights from across the globe.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SINN CHANSEREY VUTHA, Cambodian State Secretariat of Civil Aviation's Undersecretary of State
"This achievement is the result of close cooperation between China and Cambodia under the Belt and Road Initiative. We expect that this airport will be attractive (to airlines) and respond to the growing demand from the tourism sector and the passengers."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): RA SAMBO, Souvenir shop manager
"As a vendor at the Old Market in Siem Reap, I feel excited as the new airport is a new achievement. I have expectations for better business, and I'm happy that planes from different countries will fly directly to our Siem Reap province. We hope there will be more tourists coming to Cambodia. I would like to thank investors from China for constructing this new airport, which will boost tourism and attract more tourists to our country, and provide a lot of jobs to our Cambodian people."

The airport will be able to handle 7 million air passengers annually from 2024 and up to 12 million passengers annually from 2040.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Siem Reap, Cambodia.
(XHTV)