Ahead of the 113th anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Ministry of Tourism addressed women’s role in the digitalisation of Cambodia’s economy at a special event on their premises in Phnom Penh on Friday. Minister for Tourism Sok Soken spoke on the occasion elaborating on the numerous challenges facing women as the Kingdom undergoes digital transformation.
“The Ministry of Tourism has consistently underscored the importance of gender inclusivity, urging leaders and officials to champion the participation of women in both leadership and official capacities within the ministry,” said Soken speaking exclusively to Khmer Times on the occasion. “We aspire for the tourism sector to be competitive, inclusive, and sustainable, fostering resilience in the face of challenges,” he added.
Minister Soken started his address by highlighting the significance of the occasion, in the midst of the Kingdom’s digital push. Digitalisation not only increases work efficiency but also provides new opportunities to facilitate a new generation of entrepreneurship and set up programmes to support women’s participation in the field. He called for digital leadership training, especially for women in the ministries and organize orientation programmes for them.
“Today marks a significant occasion at the Ministry of Tourism as we celebrate International Women’s Day. Although officially observed on the March 8, we seize this opportunity to gather here today and highlight the invaluable role of women, while addressing the issues of gender equality,” Minister Soken said in his opening remarks.
Only when women have digital knowledge can they actively participate and find security in the digital economy of Cambodia. They will discover new ways to promote their rights, access opportunities and improve their socio-economic status.
Women’s equality is very much an integral part of the first phase of the Pentagonal Strategy. The minister urged all civil servants and the private sector to encourage and promote vocational training for women in digitalisation to help women increase their economic resilience and their ability to work.
Minister Soken advocated the promotion of social morality, explaining that women’s values strengthen solidarity as a whole towards progress, diversity, warmth and harmony. The framework of tourism strengthens the bonds of brotherhood, solidarity and friendship. Society should endeavour to improve the potential of women working in all sections of society without discrimination both inside and outside the system. Encouraging women to participate fully in the digital revolution is not only important for gender equality but also to empower women.
However, it will require the participation of every individual at the family level to fully enhance the potential for global social and economic development. The digital revolution would provide new ways for women to exercise their rights, promote their status, improve access to opportunities and improve socio-economic status.
“The Minister of Tourism has emphasized the importance of heightened participation and engagement of women within leadership and official ranks, recognizing their indispensable contribution to the development of the tourism sector,” continued the minister.
He said a focus on addressing the gender gap will help eliminate barriers in the digital sector including increasing knowledge and technology. He also underscored the importance of underdeveloped social mindsets that serve to hinder women and promote digital and online security.
The Royal Government has identified the empowerment of women as a priority agenda. The tourism sector has been described as “green gold”, supporting socio-economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.
Statistics from the ministry in 2023 revealed 5.45 million foreign visitors to the Kingdom, marking a solid 139.5 percent increase. Domestic tourists increased to 18.74 million, an increase of 34.5 percent. khmertimeskh
