TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Techo International Airport (TIA) in Cambodia will be inaugurated next July. Inaugurating this airport is an important moment in advancing tourism in the country, which the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted. The airport has been under construction since 2019 and is located about 30 kilometers south of Phnom Penh, on the border of Kandal and Takeo.
Director of the airport project's Steering Committee Charles Vann said he is confident that many passengers are waiting and want to come to see the airport, quoted from AP News, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
This airport covers an area of 2,600 hectares, making it one of the largest airports in Southeast Asia. The cost of building TIA is $1.5 billion from a joint effort between the Cambodian government and the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp. The Chinese construction company, China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd, performs the construction.
In addition, the building design is created by the British architectural firm Foster + Partners. The airport has a striking single roof to cover the terminal building. The terminal is designed to be functional and aesthetically appealing, while still adapting to the tropical climate in the country known as the Land of Khmer. The building utilizes lightweight steel frames and filtering systems to allow sunlight to enter and illuminate the terminal.
Tourism Growth Projection
Once completed, the Techo International Airport is expected to serve 13 million passengers annually. The airport is specially designed to allow for expansion in the future. By 2030, there are plans to increase the capacity to 30 million and by 2050 to accommodate 50 million passengers. The added capacity aims to accommodate the increasing influx of international tourists, as the country continues to develop as a tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
TIA is the second major airport opened in Cambodia after the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, which has been operating since 2023. The airport transports passengers to Angkor Wat, the UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts many foreign tourists.
The tourism sector plays a crucial role in Cambodia's economy. In 2024, Cambodia welcomed 6.7 million international tourists, an increase of 23 percent from the previous year. The inauguration of TIA is expected to boost tourism growth, attracting visitors to consider vacationing in the country, thus creating additional economic opportunities.
Located south of Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh, the airport is close to the city's main road, with convenient access to the necessary places for tourists. Other infrastructure developments are also underway to improve access through toll roads. This allows easy access to business, diplomatic, and tourist areas.
In addition to boosting the tourism industry, this airport is a national effort to modernize its infrastructure and aims to become a major destination for tourists. Furthermore, the airport is expected to bring broad economic benefits to Cambodia through projected job creation.
NIA NUR FADILLAH | AP | TRAVEL AND TOUR WORLD
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