Cambodia tots up arrivals

PHNOM PENH Cambodia’s tourist arrivals improved 4.8% during January to November 2016, according to the Statistics and Tourist Information Department.

Released by the Ministry of Tourism, last week, the latest data showed the country recorded 4,400,178 international tourist arrivals compared to 4,200,432 during the same period in 2015.

Outbound trips by Cambodians reached 1,306,393 up 19.3% for the first 11 months of 2016 year from 1,094,598 trips in 2015.

In November 2016 alone, the country recorded 477,686 inbound trips improving 7.4% from 444,640 during the same month in 2015.

China led the supply markets with 83,358 visits up 47.5% from 56,499 visits during the same month in 2015.

Other markets in the top five were: Vietnam (75,520; -5.0%); Thailand (42,131; +1.1%); Laos (40,372; -8.6%); and South Korea (27,507; -3.9%).

The data showed 56.5% (269,839) of all international visitors arrived by airlines. Siem Reap Airport received the major market share, 32.0% (153,090), while Phnom Penh Airport secured a market share of 23.3% (111,098) and Sihanoukville Airport just 1.2% (5,651).

Overland travel accounted for 40.4% (192,823) through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, while sea travel was a small 3.1% (15,024).

In addition, the data showed tourist arrivals to Phnom Penh and other destinations accounted for 48.2% (257,769 visits), while Siem Reap province, home of Angkor Wat, enjoyed a market share of 41.2% (219,917 visits). Coastal areas had a market share of 9.5% with 50,727 visits, while ecotourism areas accounted for just 1.1% (5,903 visits).

By region, Asia Pacific accounted for a 74.1% market share and posted a slight increase of 7.5%, or 354,114 visits from 329,512.

Africa recorded an increase of 31.9% with 888 visits followed by the Middle East (+16.0; 1,542), Americas (+15.9; 37,163), Europe (+3.6%; 83,979) and the Oceania (+3.5%; 14,898).

Outbound trips by Cambodians in November, last year, reached 123,723 up 13.7% from 108,859 during the same month in 2015.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said tourism is expected to grow and by 2020 the country projects 7 million tourist arrivals, of which 2 million would be from China.

Cambodia forecast earlier that it would gain 5 million tourist arrivals in 2016.

“If there are more direct flights from different destinations, we expect an increase between 7% to 8% in 2017 year compared to 2016,” the minister said.

In 2015, the country welcomed 4.78 million international tourists up 6.1% from 4.50 million visits in 2014.