PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s three international airports received a total of 2.48 million passengers in the first half of 2023, a 270% increase when compared to the same time last year.

According to a report of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, passengers flew in on 24,725 flights from January to June. The report is consistent with Cambodia’s overall increase in tourism revenue reported from popular sites like the Angkor Temple complex and Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia recorded around 2.57 million international visitors in the first six months of this year, a sharp increase from the 506,762 who visited during the same period last year, the Tourism Ministry reported last week.

In March, EAC News spoke with Secretary of State for Civil Aviation Sin Chanseryvutha, who said the largest number of flights was between Cambodia and Thailand, totalling 890 flights carrying 103,378 passengers. Flights to and from China came in second with 410 flights totalling 41,064 passengers.

Top Sopheak, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism, said that the government’s efforts to reinvigorate tourism numbers is responsible for the increase, especially by re-establishing flight routes and opening new ones. “The reconnection of air flights and the increase in routes, particularly direct flights to Cambodia, have made it easier for passengers to travel to Cambodia,” he stressed.

While passenger numbers are up, air freight numbers have decreased by 17% when compared to the first six months of 2022. The three airports handled some 24,000 tonnage of air freight between January and June.