Travellers from Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates might soon be able to travel directly between the two countries without a layover – if plans discussed by both foreign affairs ministries yesterday bear fruit.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said the two governments plan to establish a flight route between Phnom Penh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai to help develop tourism between the two countries.

It is still not known which airline would ply this route.

Ho Vandy, co-chairman of the government-private sector working group on tourism, lauded the plan and said that  the idea for direct flights was raised about six months ago.

“This plan will be attractive to Arab tourists because it will cost less and cut down travel time to get to Cambodia,” Vandy said.

The group also discussed plans for greater economic investment and defence cooperation between the countries, said Kuong.

To contact the reporter on this story: Meas Sokchea at [email protected]