The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) is optimistic about the resurgence of the tourism sector, aiming to restore international visitor numbers to levels seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister of Tourism, Sok Soken, highlighted collaborative efforts among the government, private sector, stakeholders, and journalists to showcase Cambodia’s tourism offerings and introduce new attractions.
Sok Soken, addressing a media briefing organized by the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) to highlight the tourism appeal of Siem Reap province, pointed out that tourists from China and India, along with visitors from Europe, the U.S., and ASEAN nations, are expected to significantly contribute to Cambodia’s tourism growth.
In a move to foster cultural exchanges and boost tourism, 2024 has been earmarked as the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year and the Cambodia-India Tourism Year. In alignment with these initiatives, Cambodia Angkor Air is set to launch direct flights to India, commencing with a route to New Delhi on June 16, aimed at attracting more Indian tourists.
Cambodia witnessed a substantial uptick in international tourists in 2023, with figures reaching approximately 5.43 million, marking a 139 percent increase from 2.27 million in 2022. Tourism, alongside the garment, footwear, and travel goods industries, agriculture, and the construction and real estate sectors, forms one of the foundational pillars of Cambodia’s economy.
Projections by the Ministry of Tourism anticipate the number of international tourists visiting Cambodia to surpass 7 million by 2025, exceeding the pre-pandemic peak of 6.6 million in 2019. The country is celebrated for its cultural heritage sites, including the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, the Preah Vihear Temple, the Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province.
Additionally, Cambodia boasts a 450-kilometre-long untouched coastline that spans the southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong, further enhancing its appeal as a diverse and rich tourist destination.
