Cambodia's tourism sector experienced a sharp downturn during the first six months of 2026, with international revenue falling by 31.5% to $1.4 billion compared to the same period last year. Data from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) indicates that the sector's overall growth slowed to just 0.1%, a significant decrease from the 6.1% growth observed in the first half of 2025.
International visitor numbers saw a 47.9% decline, falling to 1.8 million arrivals. The NBC attributed this trend to several factors, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the closure of the Cambodia–Thailand land border, and negative perceptions surrounding online scam operations. Air travel arrivals dropped by 22.8%, while land and water arrivals plummeted by 66.4%. Even when excluding Thai visitors, international arrivals still fell by 29.6%.
Chinese travelers represented the largest group of international visitors at 25.8%, followed by Vietnamese nationals at 25.6% and Americans at 6%. To stimulate interest from the Chinese market, the government has implemented a temporary visa exemption for PRC passport holders, allowing stays of up to 14 days between June 15 and October 15.
While international figures struggled, the domestic tourism market saw a robust increase of 50.5%. This growth was largely concentrated in Phnom Penh, which hosted 63.4% of domestic travelers. Revenue from ticket sales at the Angkor Archaeological Park also reflected the broader international decline, falling 29.8% to $18.5 million.
Source: Phnom Penh Post
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