PHNOM PENH, Aug 23 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia attracted a total of 3.71 million international tourists, in the first seven months of this year, down eight percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism said, yesterday.
Thailand topped the chart among foreign tourist arrivals to the country, during the Jan-Jul period this year, followed by Vietnam and China.
Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy, under the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said, the eight percent decline in international tourist arrivals reflected both regional economic slowdowns and intensified competition from neighbouring destinations, which may have diverted visitors.
“It also highlights lingering challenges in air connectivity and destination diversification,” he said.
“The newly built Techo International Airport, scheduled to open to official operations on Sept 9, will serve as a major gateway to Cambodia, offering greater flight capacity, modern facilities, and improved international connectivity,” he added.
By accommodating more direct long-haul and regional flights, it will make travel to Cambodia more convenient and attractive for tourists, Mengdavid said.
He said the Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025 and stronger inflows of tourists from China and some ASEAN member countries, could help stabilise Cambodia’s tourist growth in the entirety of 2025.
Tourism is one of four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.– NNN-AKP
