The tourism ministry reported that in 2022, the country welcomed nearly 2.28 million international visitors, a 1,059% increase over 2021. Air arrivals constituted 34.8% of these, totalling 791,603. Heng Chivoan
In the first 10 months of 2023, nearly 1.5 million foreigners travelled to Cambodia by air, marking a 167% increase compared to the same period last year. According to the Ministry of Tourism, approximately 75% of these visitors arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH).
The October 2023 tourism statistics report shows that the country welcomed 4,407,212 foreign guests from January to October, a 179.7% increase from 1,575,954 in the corresponding period of 2022. Of these, 33.9% arrived by air (1,495,540), 65% by land (2,866,231) and the remainder (45,441) by waterways.
Air arrivals for the period mark a 167.5% increase from 559,918 year-on-year.
PNH received 1,113,423 passengers (74.3% of total air arrivals), a 146% increase. Siem Reap international airport welcomed 369,206 (24.68%), a rise of 296.6% for the province and Kang Keng airport (KOS) in Preah Sihanouk province received 12,911 (0.3%), a decrease of 9.2%.
Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter, stated on December 19 that the rise in air arrivals is positive but the growth rate is modest in the context of recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
He emphasised the need for all stakeholders to work diligently in developing new strategies to attract more visitors.
Regarding the recent opening of the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), Sinan questioned whether the mere presence of a new airport would suffice to draw more tourists to the country.
“To the best of my knowledge, the new leadership at the tourism ministry is diligently working to attract more foreign tourists. I am confident that the number of foreign visitors entering Cambodia will rise in the coming years,” he said.
Sinn Chanserey Vutha, undersecretary of state and official spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), said that as of early December 2023, the country’s three international airports were operating 493 flights per week, or 986 round trips.
The tourism ministry reported that in 2022, the country welcomed nearly 2.28 million international visitors, a 1,059% increase over 2021. Air arrivals constituted 34.8% of these, totalling 791,603.
In terms of foreign tourist arrivals, 2019 was a record year for the Kingdom, with a total of 6.61 million. Of these, 4.4 million arrived by air, accounting for 66.6% of the total, as per the ministry.
