After the misfortune of July 1997 caused by outlawed extremists, the Royal Government of Cambodia has focused on three priorities as major tasks for long and short-term strategies:

1. The first priority is to maintain a political stability, security, public order and neutral political atmosphere for the upcoming election. Efforts have to be made to prevent intimidation.

2. The second priority is to maintain the macro-economic stability, to curb inflation and to keep the speed of economic growth. Although this year we predict that we cannot reach what we have planned, we try to keep the growth rate around seven percent.

3. The third priority is to continue the reform on economics, administration, and the armed forces.

Cambodia's economy situation has returned to normal: over 30 garment factories are back operating. Caltex is carrying on with an $8 million fuel depot in Sihanoukville. Singapore's Raffles Holding has resumed work on two hotel projects. The company BHP from Australia, IMPEX from Japan, Esso from USA and Enterprise Oil from England have announced their participation to oil exploration in the Thai-Cambodian overlapping area. The National Bank has announced that the Cambodian currency has been stable again… Moreover the King has returned to the country. He is holding Buddhist prayers for peace and national reconciliation at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap. The King's presence in the country symbolizes peace and stability in Cambodia.

Regarding tourism, the Government has cooperated with the private sector to launch a campaign to promote Cambodia as a tourist destination. The vice-chairman of the promotional Cambodian campaign said: "We are trying to raise awareness that Cambodia is a safe place to return to and the government ensures safety". The director general of the Tourism Ministry said: "Our aim is to beautify Phnom Penh and create a place of interest to tourists as well as businessmen. These visitors will see security, friendliness, safety and the warm hospitality of the Cambodian people". The Tourism Ministry added that several upcoming events including the famous Water Festival in November and the second International Ramayana Performance at Angkor Wat in December could be used to lure tourists back.

Cambodia has great potential of tourism with rich cultural and historic heritage, the world renowned Angkor Wat, unspoiled beaches, coral islands, beautiful mountains, forests. From June 29 through September 28, 1997, Cambodia's exceptional architecture and its thousand year-old sculptures (Sculptures of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia: Millenium of Glory) have been displayed to a significant number of Americans at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The exhibit of these Cambodian major works from the 6th-16th centuries indeed inspires an increase in travel to Cambodia.

The Royal Embassy of Cambodia draws attention to the American people that Cambodia is now safe for tourists. Please go to Cambodia, "Seeing is Believing".