Tourists explore the temples of Siem Reap province in July 2023. Post Staff
Nearly 4.3 million tourists travelled to Cambodia in the first eight months of 2024, marking an increase of over 20% compared to the same period in 2023. Among these, nearly two-thirds arrived by land.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, between January and August 2024, a total of 4,291,058 foreigners arrived in the country, an increase of 22.5% compared to the same period in 2023, which saw 3,501,981.
The largest group of visitors came from Thailand, with 1.34 million, followed by Vietnam with 868,445, China with 538,834 and Laos with 242,104. Other tourists included those from the US, South Korea, Indonesia, France, the UK and Japan.
The report also noted that of all foreign visitors, 2.7 million travelled by land, 1.54 million by air and 53,778 by sea.
Khieu Thy, president of the Khmer Angkor Tourist Guide Association (KATGA), told The Post on September 30 that the number of foreign tourists visiting Cambodia, especially Siem Reap province, remains lower compared to pre-pandemic levels.
He attributed this to the global economic situation, complicated travel conditions, high expenses and limited promotion of tourism.
Thy mentioned that the current mix of foreign tourists visiting Angkor Wat and other tourist sites is more diverse than in 2019, when Chinese tourists made up the majority. He said the reason for the high number of land travellers is mainly due to visitors from Thailand and Vietnam.
In 2019, the country received a record number of international tourists, totalling 6,610,592, an increase of 6.6% compared to 2018.
Thy expressed optimism that the tourism sector will recover during the upcoming high season, as the government has introduced new measures and continued promotion to strengthen and expand the market.
However, he urged authorities and the private sector to collaborate more actively to maximise opportunities for attracting foreign tourists, as the industry can generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
Chheak Serey, a souvenir vendor and money changer at Siem Reap town's central market, said that although the threat of Covid-19 has ended, the global economic crisis and conflicts between certain countries have hindered Cambodia’s tourism sector from fully recovering to its 2020 levels. He noted that his business, along with others, remains quiet.
"Nonetheless, we hope that things will improve starting from this Pchum Ben Festival onward. The growth of tourism, especially foreign visitors, will greatly contribute to Cambodia’s overall economic activities," he added.
In 2023, the country received 5.45 million foreigners, an increase of 139.5% compared to 2022. Revenue from these visitors in 2023 reached approximately $3.04 billion, an increase of 115% from $1.41 billion in 2022. In 2019, the country’s tourism industry generated a record $4.919 billion, according to the ministry.
