On June 17th, the Ministry of Tourism invited tourism start-ups to apply for the UNWTO start-up competition for rural tourism organized by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

The event offers attendees the opportunity to receive technical and business mentoring to help them scale their businesses and improve their products and services, as well as the opportunity to showcase their business models at the WTO General Assembly in October, it said on social media.

It highlighted the benefits of participating in the WTO Young Entrepreneurs in Rural Tourism competition for budding tourism businesspeople or those with start-up ambitions who could potentially help rural communities recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

“The competition aims to recruit outstanding young entrepreneurs from WTO member countries to encourage the establishment of tourism businesses, especially in rural tourism destinations, and to support the livelihood of locals towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism development, especially in response on the blows suffered by the Covid-19 crisis, “said the ministry.

Contest winners will become members of the World Young Entrepreneurs Network, receive technical support from the WTO to empower their businesses, and have the opportunity to take the stage and introduce their businesses to World Tourism management from 159 countries and major world organizations the 24th WTO General Assembly in October in the great Moroccan economic center of Marrakech said.

To qualify, candidates must demonstrate the uniqueness of their company, highlight the level of innovation, address their importance to the livelihoods of people affected by Covid-19 and show how they contribute to sustainable development at grassroots level, he added.

She invited those interested in the competition to visit the website unwto.org/unwto-global-rural-tourism-startup-competition

Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), told The Post that young people are the main driving force behind promoting the kingdom’s ecotourism and rural tourism potential, stressing that their participation in “such a world class -Competition “is very important to improve your skills and gain new experience.

Pointing out that the kingdom has vast natural and rural areas with great prospects for tourism development, she said the competition offers young Cambodians a rare and special opportunity to attract foreign tourists to the kingdom, especially after the situation around the Covid-19 pandemic has been tamed.

“This event comes at a time when Cambodia is researching the possibility of reopening to foreign tourists so that young people can have the opportunity to promote rural tourism in Cambodia,” said Sivlin.

On April 7, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said he had asked Prime Minister Hun Sen to open the door to the Angkor area to international tourists vaccinated against the novel coronavirus from October to December.

The appeal came amid improvements in community management in the Angkor area and an accelerated vaccination process for officials and key players in the tourism industry as well as other sectors, he said.