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August 16, 2000

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, hereinafter referred to as the "Parties";

DESIRING to strengthen the friendly relations and mutual understanding existing between them;

RECOGNISING the common interest of both countries to cooperate in the field of tourism;

RECOGNISING further the importance of tourism in the enhancement of knowledge and understanding between their people and as an essential element of both countries;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE 1
GENERAL PROVISION

The Parties shall, subject to their respective laws and regulations, develop and promote cooperation in the field of tourism on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

ARTICLE 2
EXECUTING AGENCIES

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines designates the Department of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines as the agency responsible for the enforcement of its rights and implementation of its obligations under this Memorandum of Understanding.

The Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia designates the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia as the agency responsible for the enforcement of its rights and implementation of its obligations under this Memorandum of Understanding.

ARTICLE 3
AREAS OF COOPERATION

The Parties in conformity with their internal policies, laws and regulations, shall encourage collaboration in the following areas of cooperation, inter alia:

1. The Parties shall endeavor to develop uniform tourism standards and practices to facilitate the inflow of foreign tourists into their respective territories in line with the standards established by the World Tourism Organization;

2. The Parties shall encourage the exchange of experience in matters relating to the organization, management and business operation of Tourism in their respective countries and the exchange of publications and information relating to tourism;

3. The Parties shall encourage and promote individual or group travel by their respective citizens and citizens of third countries to the Philippines and Cambodia. To attain this objective, the Parties shall facilitate and encourage the fostering of commercial tourism activities and services such as travel agencies, tourism operation and businesses, hotel chains, airline links, and other tourism-related endeavors;

4. Each Party may establish and operate a representative tourism office in the territory of the other Party, without engaging in any activity of a commercial character. It is understood that the Parties shall assist each other in the establishment of this office in each other's territory. In this vein, the Parties shall provide the facilities within their means for the installation and operation of their own office; and

5. The Parties, through their designated executing agencies, shall endeavor to promote technical assistance in the field of tourism through the exchange of visits of their public officials and tourism experts in order to obtain a better understanding of each other's tourism infrastructure and to ascertain the areas requiring expertise and transfer of technology. The terms and conditions of such technical assistance shall be the subject of specific agreement to be mutually agreed upon by both Parties, in a written agreement on the basis of and within the framework of this Memorandum of Understanding.

ARTICLE 4
MONITORING MECHANISM

The representative of the designated executing agencies of the Parties shall, whenever necessary, meet alternately in the two countries to assess and monitor the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, and sign the appropriate protocols, in addition, they shall designate specific contact offices within their respective agencies to ensure the proper implementation and monitoring of the activities undertaken pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding.

ARTICLE 5
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

Any difference or dispute arising from the interpretation or impiementation of the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be settled amicably by consultation or negotiation between the Parties.

ARTICLE 6
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND VALIDITY

This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force on the date of the later notification by either Party, through diplomatic channels, indicating compliance with their respective domestic requirements for its entry into force.

This Memorandum of Understanding shall remain valid for a period of five (5) years and shall automatically be renewed for similar periods unless a Party serves a written notification to the other, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate this Memorandum of Understanding six (6) months prior to its expiration.

The termination of this Memorandum of Understanding shall not affect the implementation of ongoing programs and activities, which have been agreed upon while the Memorandum of Understanding was in force.

ARTICLE 7
AMENDMENTS

Either Party may request in writing, through diplomatic channels, to amend or modify this Memorandum of Understanding. Any amendment mutually agreed upon shall enter into force in accordance with paragraph 1, Article 6 of this Memorandum of Understanding.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Memorandum.

DONE in Manila, Philippines, on this sixteenth day of August, the year 2000, in two original texts, in the English and in the Khmer languages, both texts being equally authentic. If there is any divergence concerning the interpretation of this Memorandum, the English text shall prevail.