3-7-2023 (PHNOM PENH) Cambodia has seen a surge of 409% in international visitors, with 2.57 million arrivals in the first half of 2023, compared to 506,762 in the same period last year, according to Tourism Minister Thong Khon. Thailand topped the list of international arrivals during the January-June period, followed by Vietnam, China, Laos, and the United States.
Based on the latest forecast, Khon predicts that Cambodia will receive up to 5 million international tourists in 2023, a 120% increase from 2.27 million in 2022. He also expects the number of foreign visitors to reach 7 million in 2025, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 6.6 million in 2019.
The recovery of the tourism sector is a significant contributor to Cambodia’s post-pandemic economic growth, which is forecast at 5.6% this year, the minister said. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy, along with garment export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.
Khon attributed China’s reopening earlier this year as a key factor in Cambodia’s tourism growth, with the kingdom expected to attract between 800,000 and 1 million Chinese tourists in 2023.
Cambodia is renowned for its three world heritage sites, the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province. It also boasts a 450-km pristine coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.
