World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili has invited Prime Minister Hun Sen to the UN body's 25th General Assembly. The esteemed event is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in October, said the Ministry of Tourism on June 30.

Pololikashvili said Hun Sen's participation will significantly aid Cambodia's tourism development. 

The secretary-general is deeply appreciative of the premier's hospitality, a sentiment he expressed during his recent visit to Phnom Penh. During the visit, Pololikashvili attended the UNWTO Regional Committee Meeting and International Conference on the International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT), where he engaged in roundtable discussions.

“I had the pleasure of meeting with Samdech [Hun Sen] at the Peace Palace to discuss common strategic issues such as the recovery of the tourism industry affected by the global epidemic and the importance of the ICPT,” Pololikashvili said in a letter.

Pololikashvili applauded Cambodia's adherence to the ICPT and its commitment to spearhead the adoption of the Phnom Penh Declaration on the ICPT across the Asia-Pacific region. 

In his letter, he stated that Cambodia's commitment to the ICPT is commendable. The Kingdom, he added, will be a regional role model, contributing significantly to assisting tourists in emergencies and driving a joint effort towards boosting consumer confidence in tourism.