The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) launched its Cambodian chapter on Friday in the hope of further promoting the country’s second-largest sector by revenues.

The sparsity of air routes to Cambodia was one of the main obstacles to the Kingdom’s tourism growth, PATA Cambodia chapter president Thoun Sinann said.

It was hoped the PATA chapter would broaden awareness of the Kingdom’s tourism sector, Tith Chantha, general director of tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, said.

“The assoc-iation is very important, because it will push for the promotion of the tourism sector in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Cambodia expected to receive 4.5 million international tourists a year by 2015.