Cambodia’s tourism grows

Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered a 2.8% growth in May according to latest statistics from the Ministry of Tourism’s Information Department.
The country attracted 300,302 visits compared to 292,115 during the same month last year.
Released last Thursday, data showed Vietnam led the field with 75,087 visits increasing 4.4% from 71,956 during the same month in 2013.
Other top markets were: China (35,919; +27.0%); Laos (31,452; -2.8%); Thailand (19,027; +6.8%); and South Korea (18,120; -25.6%).
In May, 45.8% (137,432) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap Airport received the major share, 24.4% (73,215). Meanwhile, Phnom Penh Airport received market share of 21.4% (64,217) mainly business travellers who needed to contact government departments or budget travellers who starting or finishing their overland trips.
Overland travel accounts for 53.3% (160,139) travel through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam while sea travel is a small at 0.9% (2,731).
In addition, the data showed tourist arrivals to Phnom Penh and other destinations accounted for 44.4%, or 156,629 visits, while arrivals to Siem Reap province a home of Angkor Wat represented 40.7% of all arrivals, or 143,673. Coastal areas also shared 13.3% with 46,840 visits, while ecotourism areas accounted for just 1.6% receiving 5,581 visits.
By region, Asia Pacific accounted for 81.7% and posted a growth of 3.4% totalling 245,437 visits. Africa grew 25.6% to 481 followed by the Middle East (694; +7.6%), Americas (18,214; +0.0%), Europe (35,476; -0.1%), and Oceania (8,584; -15.1%).
For January to May, the country welcomed 1,900,914 internatoinal travellers improving 6.1% from 1,791,187 visits during the same period in 2013. According to the ministry, Vietnam, China and South Korea are the largest sources of tourists to Cambodia. A remarkable rise in Chinese tourists to Cambodia was due to more direct flights between the two countries. The country forecasts it will receive 4.7 million tourists this year, an expected rise of 12% from 4.2 million visitors last year.
But to reach long-term goals over the next five years, Cambodia Association of Travel Agents president Ang Kim Eang said the country needs more quality infrastructure, such as bridges, highways and road connecting remote tourism destinations, while staff need better training in tourism and hospitality.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews