Cambodia tourism up 18%

01 Jun 2013 2046 | Cambodia Travel News

Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered an 18.3% growth in March according to the country’s statistics and tourist Information department.

The country welcomed 382,206 visits compared to 323,083 during the same month in 2012.

Released by the Ministry of Tourism, Wednesday, data showed neighbouring Vietnam was the top supplier with 68,680 visits, an increase of 7.8% from 63,730 visits in March last year.

Other top source markets were: China (42,340; +60.5%); South Korea (41,971; +2.6%); Laos (33,847; +87.1%); and Japan (21,505; +2.4%).

Thailand ranked sixth supplying 20,152 visits and improving 24.0% compared to 16,258 visits during the same month last year.

But considering Thailand’s middle class wealth and the high spend on entertainment and leisure activities, outbound visits to Cambodia are way below potential.

In March, 50.4% (192,497) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap airport received the major share, 30.2% (115,122), while Phnom Penh Airport received just 20.2% (77,375) mainly business travellers who needed to contact government departments and budget travellers starting or finishing their overland trips.

Overland travel accounts for 47.7% (182,409) of all travel through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, while sea travel is a small 1.9% (7,300).

Siem Reap province welcomed 214,746 tourists, or 56.2% of all arrivals including air and overland. The province’s tourism increased 8.1%.

Data hints of the massive imbalance between tourist arrivals to Siem Reap and the rest of the country. Arrivals to Phnom Penh and all other destinations accounted for a 43.8% share (167,460 visits).

By region, Asia Pacific accounted for a 73.4% market share and posted a growth of 20.9% supplying 280,615 arrivals.

The Middle East grew 25.0% to 1,253 visits followed by Europe (+12.4%; 72,649), Africa (+11.4%; 500), America (+9.2%; 27,189), and Oceania (+7.0%; 11,588).

Outbound trips by Cambodians in March reached 64,565 trips increasing 11.9% from 57,684 during the same month last year.

January to March, the country welcomed 1,172,972 foreign travellers improving 17.8% from 995,210 visits during the same period last year.

Outbound trips reached 201,544 growing just 7.1% in the first quarter of this year when compared to 188,267 trips last year.