Tourists visit the world-famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap province. Post Staff
The Kingdom’s tourism sector experienced a resurgence in July, with steady growth in international arrivals and strong domestic travel, marking a positive shift after years of instability.
“Cambodia welcomed 575,733 international tourists in July 2024, a 25.9% increase on the previous year,” said the latest report from the Tourism Statistics Department.
They claimed that the growth reflected both a recovering global tourism industry and Cambodia’s efforts to promote itself as a prime destination in Southeast Asia.
The report highlighted a significant jump in international arrivals, particularly from neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia.
“Visitors from Thailand, Vietnam, and China topped the list, with Thailand contributing the largest share of arrivals at 33.4%, representing a 22.2% increase from July 2023,” said the report.
“Vietnam and China followed with 20.5% and 13.0% shares respectively, showcasing robust growth rates of 34.5% and 48.1%,” it added.
Cambodia’s three major international airports – in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville – played a critical role in the influx of tourists.
The report said Phnom Penh International Airport saw a 31.7% rise in visitors compared to the previous year, while Siem Reap Angkor International Airport experienced a 10.6% increase.
The department believed that the figures reflect the growing appeal of Cambodia’s cultural and historical landmarks, particularly Angkor Wat, which continues to be a major attraction for international travellers.
Land crossings also contributed to the surge in arrivals, with a 25% increase compared to the previous year.
Tourists entering Cambodia by land accounted for 65.6% of all international arrivals, reflecting the convenience and accessibility of cross-border travel, particularly from Thailand and Vietnam.
“Domestic tourism also thrived during this period, with a 10.4% increase in the number of local travellers,” said the report.
Key tourist destinations like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Preah Sihanouk remained popular among both domestic and international guests, although Preah Sihanouk saw a significant decline.
The coastal province saw visitor numbers drop by 36.7%, indicating potential concerns that may require closer attention.
From January to July, Cambodia welcomed 3,742,230 international guests, although the average lengths of stay were not recorded.
The report indicates that Cambodia's top markets continue to be the ASEAN region, contributing over 66.5% of total international arrivals.
This was followed by Northeast Asia (18.3%) and Europe (7.8%). The US also made showed strong growth, contributing 3.0% of total arrivals, a 26.1% increase from the previous year.
