Cambodia tourism up 15 per cent

For every 100 foreign tourists who arrived in Cambodia from January to September 2009, nearly 115 visitors disembarked in the kingdom in the same nine months of this year. Tourism Ministry director-general Tith Chantha says economic recovery, more regional flight connections and broad promotions will ensure that overall growth for 2010 will reach 15 per cent.

He says Cambodia aims to meet a goal of 2.5 million international visitors this year, up from 2.16 million last year. This figure could increase further if there were flights to the coastal holiday town of Sihanoukville. The largest source of visitors is from Vietnam Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced on Saturday that citizens of Cambodia, as well as Vietnam, Philippines and Laos, would qualify for visas on arrival beginning in January 2011.

Sourced=radioaustralianews