Phnom Penh: Cambodia’s tourism sector, an important pillar of the national economy, is facing a significant decline, with international arrivals in the first half of 2026 falling nearly 48% from the same period a year earlier.
According to Ministry of Tourism data, Cambodia received approximately 1.75 million international visitors from January to June 2026, down 47.9% from the 3.36 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
China, Vietnam and the United States remained Cambodia’s largest tourism source markets, with approximately 452,200 Chinese visitors, 447,700 Vietnamese visitors and 104,640 US visitors. All three major markets nevertheless declined year on year: arrivals from China fell about 23%, those from Vietnam 28% and those from the United States 11%.
ថុង ម៉េងដាវីត, deputy director of the China–ASEAN Studies Center at Cambodia University of Technology and Science (CamTech), said several factors caused the decline, including the regional economic slowdown, concerns about online scam crime and tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border. He added that conflict in the Middle East had disrupted international flights and raised fuel prices, affecting tourist travel.
Despite these challenges, tourism remains one of Cambodia’s four main economic pillars, alongside agriculture, construction and real estate, and exports of garments, footwear and travel goods.
In 2025, Cambodia received 5.57 million international visitors and earned approximately US$3.87 billion in total tourism revenue, demonstrating the sector’s continuing importance to economic growth and job creation.
By: KPS99TV
