Cambodia’s tourism slows a mite

19 Aug 2014  2059 | Cambodia Travel News

PHNOM PENH Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered a 0.3% decline in June according to the country’s statistics and tourist Information Department.
The country attracted 300,454 visits compared to 301,412 during the same month last year.
Released officially by the Ministry of Tourism, last week, data showed Vietnam led the field with 78,597 visits, but decreasing 5.0% from 82,703 during the same month in 2013.
Other markets in top five were: China (34,373; +20.3%); Laos (33,649; -9.6%); South Korea (20,661; -15.1%); and Thailand (16,504; +9.5%).
In June, 46.4% (139,463) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap Airport received the major share, 23.6% (70,933.
Phnom Penh Airport received market share of 22.8% (68,530) mainly business travellers who needed to contact government departments or budget travellers who starting or finishing their overland trips.
Overland travel accounts for 52.1% (156,480) through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, while sea travel is a small at just 1.5% (4,511).
In addition, the data showed tourist arrivals to Phnom Penh and other destinations accounted for 51.0% attracting 174,422 visits, while arrivals to Siem Reap province, home of Angkor Wat, posted a share of 36.9% welcoming 126,032. Coastal areas also shared 10.8% with 36,748 visits while ecotourism areas accounted be 1.4% receiving 4,636 visits.
By region, Asia Pacific accounted for an 83.5% market share, but it posted a decline of 0.1% with 250,954 visits.
Americas showed a growth of 4.9% up to 18,477 followed by the Oceania (10,274; -3.0%); Europe (30,080; -3.9%); Africa (433; -12.9%); and the Middle East (510; -26.7%).
Outbound trips by Cambodians in June reached 70,654, a decrease of 4.6% from 74,035 during the same month last year.
For January to June, the country welcomed 2,201,368 internatoinal travellers improving 5.2% from 2,092,599 visits during the same period in 2013.
Outbound trips reached 454,786 growing 3.1% for the first six months of this year compared to 441,292 trips last year.
Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said, based on the first half year’s figure, Cambodia should attract 4.6 million international visits, this year, a rise of 10% from 4.2 million last year.
“Southeast Asian nations will represent 8 million foreign visitors in 2020 with an estimated revenue of USD5 billion.”
China remains the biggest market and one that could ultimately swamp the country’s tourism business as Chinese investors follow in the footsteps of tourists to exploit opportunities.
“We project that around 800,000 Chinese will visit Cambodia in 2015 and nearly 2 million in 2020,” he said.
Tourism is one of the four major pillars supporting the Cambodian economy, accounting for an estimated 16% of the GDP. However, critics warn that more needs to be done to encourage local investment and also ensure that revenue earned from tourism filters through to communities to raise their standard of living.

sourced:ttrweekly.com

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