Around 7 Million Foreign Tourists to Visit Cambodia by 2020

Cambodia tourism is set to have around seven million foreign tourists and be recognized as one of the world’s tourism destination by 2020, said Tourism Minister H.E Thong Khon.

Speaking at the opening of the first summarizing meeting on clean resort competition and the strengthening of tourism community held on Aug. 16 at Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh, the minister said Cambodia expected to receive around 2.8 million foreign tourists in 2011, around three million in 2012, around 3.5 million in 2013, and around 4.5 million in 2015.

If the number of foreign tourists increases to seven million in 2020, Cambodia will earn revenue of five billion US$, which he said will contribute to boosting GDP growth of the country.

He also made known that in the first half of this year foreign tourists entering the country were recorded of over 1.3 million, an increase of 13% as compared to the same period last year.

Siem Reap-Angkor is the country’s main cultural-historical tourist destinations linking from this area to its periphery of the zones including Preah Vihear temple area and Tonle Sap Biosphere zone and connecting to the coastal zones.

Tourism is a priority sector of the country contributing to building up socio-economic development, job opportunities, income generation, livelihood improvement and poverty reduction. The sector is also vital part of green economy since its revenue is directly integrated into national economy taking part in enhancing GDP growth.

Source – akp.gov.kh