Phnom Penh, March 22, 2024 – Cambodia has experienced a significant uptick in international tourist arrivals, with figures for January and February 2024 reaching 988,574, an 18% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, according to a recent report from the Ministry of Tourism released on March 21.
Leading the influx were tourists from Thailand, numbering 247,530, with Vietnam and China following closely, contributing 185,385 and 109,990 visitors, respectively. Notably, air travel was the preferred mode of entry for 42% of these international guests, marking a 33% rise from last year.
Tourism continues to be a cornerstone of Cambodia's economy, standing alongside the nation's garment, footwear, and travel goods export sectors, agriculture, and the construction and real estate industries as one of the four primary economic pillars.
Despite the positive trends in inbound tourism, the report highlighted a slight decline in Cambodian outbound tourists, which fell by 3.9% to 262,580 during the first two months of the year.
On the domestic front, the report detailed a substantial 84% year-on-year increase in local tourist activity, totaling 3.58 million, with 813,813 of these being domestic travelers of foreign nationality.
Cambodia's rich cultural heritage continues to be a major draw for visitors, boasting world-renowned sites such as the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple, Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province. Additionally, the kingdom's 450-kilometer-long pristine coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces—Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong—offers visitors a diverse range of natural beauty and leisure activities.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Tourism is optimistic about the country's tourism prospects, projecting that Cambodia will attract approximately 7 million international visitors by 2025, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 6.6 million recorded in 2019.
