Cambodia has approved plans for an international airport in Sihanoukville, in an

effort to increase tourism.

Soy Sokhan, an Undersecretary of State for Civil Aviation, said the rebuilt airport

would have direct flights to neighboring countries, as well as domestic flights to

Siem Reap.

Many of Cambodia's smaller airports, like Sihanoukville's are closed.

There are also plans to reopen Kratie's airport, since it is near the area of the

Mekong river where the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins live, another potential tourist

attraction.

Almost 1.5 million tourists came to Cambodia in 2005, and the government hopes for

three million tourists annually by 2010.