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PHNOM PENH, July 14, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chea Munyrith (L, front), director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, shakes hands with Chhay Khunlong (R, front), deputy director of the Tourism Ministry's tourism department, during a signing ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 14, 2016. The Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia on Thursday signed to provide free-of-charge Chinese-language training for Cambodian tourism officials and tour guides, officials said. (Xinhua/Phearum)
PHNOM PENH, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia on Thursday signed to provide free-of-charge Chinese-language training for Cambodian tourism officials and tour guides, officials said.
The agreement was inked here between Chea Munyrith, director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, and Chhay Khunlong, deputy director of the Tourism Ministry's tourism department, under the presence of Tourism Minister Thong Khon.
The free training aimed to improve Chinese proficiency for Cambodian tourism officials and tour guides as more and more Chinese tourists and businessmen had come to Cambodia, said Munyrith.
"It is an incentive factor for Chinese tourists when Cambodian tourism officials and tour guides can speak Chinese fluently," he said, adding that all courses would be taught by native Chinese speakers.
Cambodia received some 700,000 Chinese tourists in 2015, up 24 percent year-on-year, and is expected to attract up to two million Chinese tourists in 2020.
"The Chinese courses for Cambodian tourism officials and tour guides will be definitely contributed to attracting more Chinese tourists to Cambodia," said Thong Khon.
Cambodia currently has about 500 Chinese-speaking tour guides, the minister said, adding that there are about 35 direct flights between Cambodia and China every day.
