Cambodia has seen a significant rise in foreign tourism in 2024, with six million international visitors recorded between January and November, marking a 22% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The largest group of visitors came from Thailand, with 1.91 million arrivals, representing a 15.4% increase and accounting for 31.9% of the total market share. Vietnamese tourists followed closely, with 1.2 million arrivals, up 30.8%, making up 20.1% of the market. Chinese tourists ranked third with 769,775 arrivals, followed by visitors from Laos (306,948) and the United States (190,856). Other key source markets included South Korea, Indonesia, France, the UK, and Japan.
Khiev Thy, president of the Khmer Angkor Tour Guide Association (KATGA), attributed the increase in Thai and Vietnamese tourists to Cambodia’s shared land and water borders with these countries. However, he noted that many of these visitors travel primarily for business, especially in the border provinces, rather than for leisure or cultural experiences, such as visiting the Angkor temples. In contrast, international tourists who visit cultural sites, particularly the Angkor temples, are more likely to come from Europe, the US, China, and Japan.
The growth in tourism has also translated into higher ticket sales for Angkor Archaeological Park, with Angkor Enterprise reporting a 28.33% rise in ticket sales, totaling 898,339 tickets between January and November 2024. This generated $41.91 million in revenue, up from $32.45 million during the same period in 2023. While the number of Chinese visitors to Siem Reap has rebounded, it remains below pre-pandemic levels. Overall, the surge in foreign visitors underscores Cambodia’s growing appeal as both a regional travel hub and a cultural tourism destination.
