Cambodia Tourism Revenue Drops Over 30% Amidst International Woes; Domestic Travel Soars

International tourism revenue in Cambodia saw a significant drop of 31.5% in the first half of the year, totaling $1.4 billion, according to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). This decline is attributed to a confluence of factors including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the closure of the Cambodia–Thailand border, and negative publicity surrounding online scam operations. International tourist arrivals plummeted by 47.9% to 1.8 million visitors during the January-June period, a sharp decrease from the 3.4 million recorded in the same period last year. Even excluding Thai visitors, international arrivals still declined by 29.6%. Chinese tourists constituted the largest share of international arrivals at 25.8%, followed by Vietnamese visitors at 25.6%, and Americans at 6%. The NBC also noted a decrease in weekly flights between Cambodia and the Middle East, from approximately 52 to 44. Arrivals by air declined by 22.8%, while those by land and water dropped drastically by 66.4%. "The conflict in the Middle East further reduced international tourist arrivals, adding to the existing downward trend following the closure of the Cambodia–Thailand land border, as well as negative publicity related to online scam operations," the NBC stated. Revenue from ticket sales at the Angkor Archaeological Park also declined by 29.8%, to $18.5 million. In contrast, domestic tourism experienced robust growth, with domestic tourist numbers increasing by 50.5%. Phnom Penh accounted for the largest share of domestic tourists at 63.4%, followed by the coastal region (24%), Siem Reap province (6.8%), and ecotourism destinations (1.3%). This growth was reportedly bolstered by the introduction of new tourism products and the organization of promotional events. To attract more Chinese visitors, the Cambodian government has implemented a temporary visa exemption for holders of People's Republic of China (PRC) passports. Eligible travelers can stay in the Kingdom for up to 14 days during the four-month period from June 15 to October 15. For context, Cambodia welcomed a total of 5.57 million international tourists in 2025, a 16.9% decrease from 2024. Despite the decline in arrivals that year, international tourism revenue reportedly rose 6.6% to approximately $3.878 billion, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Source: Phnom Penh Post