Cambodia’s tourism soars

12 Nov 2013 2049 | Cambodia Travel News

Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered a 16.9% growth in September according to the country’s statistics and tourist Information department.

The country attracted 283,787 visits compared to 242,747 during the same month in 2012.

Released by the Ministry of Tourism, late last week, data showed the percentage growth did not increase from neighbouring Vietnam, but it remained the top supplier with 59,717 trips, compared with 59,721 trips during the same month last year.

Other top supply market were: Laos (39,163; +54.4%); China (34,345; +28.1%); South Korea (21,441; +10.9%); and Japan (18,685; +24.8%).

Thailand ranked sixth with 16,489 visits increasing 16.1% from 14,206 last year.

In September, 45.6% (129,458) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap Airport had the major share, 24.8% (70,440) and Phnom Penh Airport 20.8% (59,018), mainly business travellers who needed to contact government departments or budget travellers who start or finish their overland trips in the Cambodian capital.

Overland travel accounts for 52.6% (149,209) of all travel through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, while sea travel is a small at 1.8% (5,120).

In addition, the data showed tourist arrivals to Phnom Penh and other destinations accounted for 50.3% attracting 142,802 visits while Siem Reap province, home of Angkor Wat, had a market share of 49.7% or 140,985 trips.

By region, Asia Pacific supplied 84.4% of all trips, up19.0% or 239,404 visits.

Oceania grew 34.5% to 12,922 visits followed by Europe (+10.8%; 30,493); the Middle East (+0.6%; 865); Americas (-0.5%; 12,655); and Africa (-12.9%; 370).

For January to September, the country welcomed 3,057,211 international tourist arrivals improving 18.6% from 2,577,540 during the same period last year.

Outbound trips by Cambodians in September reached 69,420 increasing 5.2% from 66,002 during the same month, last year, or 644,393 for the first nine months up 10.0% from 585,805 trips.

Cambodia Tourism Minister Thong Khon said besides neighbouring countries as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, China supplied a sharp rise in visits.

“Closer ties between Cambodia and China is an essential to attract more Chinese to Cambodia and Chinese have the spending power… they are rich.”

He said the country has set a target of 1.5 million to 2 million Chinese tourists by 2020.