PHNOM PENH– Cambodia's tourism sector thrived in 2024, generating approximately $3.6 billion from roughly 6.7 million international visitors, a 22.9 percent surge compared to 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism.  Visitors from Asia and the Pacific dominated, accounting for 85 percent of all arrivals.

The top ten source countries were Thailand (32 percent), Vietnam (20 percent), China (12.7 percent), Laos (5 percent), the United States (3.2 percent), South Korea (2.9 percent), Indonesia (2.5 percent), France (2 percent), the United Kingdom (1.7 percent), and Japan (1.7 percent).

Specifically, 5.7 million tourists came from Asia and the Pacific, while Europe contributed 663,359 arrivals (9.9 percent of the total).  The Americas provided 289,635 tourists (4.3 percent), Africa 13,715 (0.2 percent), and the Middle East 3,545 (0.1 percent).

Of the total visitors, over 2 million arrived by air, and over 4 million entered via land and waterways.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia's tourism sector thrived, generating nearly $5 billion in revenue and welcoming 6.6 million international visitors.  However, the pandemic devastated the industry in 2020 and 2021, with earnings plummeting to just $1 billion and $184 million, respectively, and visitor numbers drastically reduced to 1.3 million and 196,495.

The sector began to recover in 2022 and 2023, with earnings reaching $1.4 million and $3 million, and tourist arrivals increasing to 2.2 million and 5.4 million.

To further boost tourism, particularly from China, the government has implemented several initiatives.

These include reduced e-visa fees, effective January 1, lowering the cost for tourists from $36 to $30 and for business travelers from $42 to $35.

For 2025, the Cambodian government is backing its commitment to tourism with nearly $2 million in funding.  This investment is being complemented by practical improvements on the ground.

The Angkor Enterprise, the exclusive provider of Angkor passes, has launched a digital ticketing system, a welcome change that eliminates the long queues previously required for entry to the Angkor Archaeological Park.

These efforts underscore Cambodia's dedication to enhancing the tourist experience, a message Tourism Minister Huot Hak recently reinforced by personally appealing to ambassadors from Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Brunei, and the Philippines, urging them to champion Cambodia as a premier travel destination.

Despite anticipating a possible overall decline in tourist numbers, the minister sees a bright spot in the potential for increased Chinese tourism.

He highlighted recent events in Thailand as a possible factor in attracting more Chinese visitors to Cambodia, projecting 1.1 million arrivals in 2025.  This comes on the heels of a stunning 55 percent jump in Chinese tourism in 2024, with over 840,000 Chinese travelers already experiencing Cambodia's wonders.