PHNOM PENH, July 24, 2024 — Cambodia has experienced a notable increase in foreign tourist arrivals, welcoming 3.16 million visitors in the first six months of 2024, marking a 22.7 percent increase from the 2.57 million recorded during the same period last year, according to a report released by the Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday.

Despite a decline in visitors from Thailand, which saw a 9.7 percent drop to 955,250 tourists, the overall number of visitors from other major sources like Vietnam and China has surged. Vietnamese tourists increased by 38 percent to 639,549, while Chinese arrivals rose by 45.2 percent to 389,360.

The report further highlighted that approximately 1.51 million foreign tourists, or about 36.4 percent of the total arrivals, entered Cambodia via airports, showing a 26.2 percent increase year-on-year. The remainder traveled through land border gates and waterways.

Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism noted an increase in outbound tourism from Cambodia, which rose by 2.2 percent to 905,980 travelers during the same period.

Domestic tourism also showed robust activity, with 7.8 million Cambodians visiting various tourist destinations within the country.

In 2023, Cambodia received a total of 5.45 million foreign visitors, generating a gross revenue of US$3.08 billion. This year's strong half-year performance suggests continued growth in both the tourism sector and the broader economy.