KEP, Cambodia, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded 4.4 million international tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of 2023, a sharp increase of around 180 percent from 1.57 million over the same period last year, Tourism Minister Sok Soken said here on Sunday.
"Based on this figure, Cambodia is expected to receive approximately 5.4 million foreign visitors in 2023," he said in a speech during the closing ceremony of the 10th annual Sea Festival held in the southern province of Kep.
Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.
The Southeast Asian country is renowned for the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in the northwestern Siem Reap province.
Ministry of Tourism's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Top Sopheak said the kingdom is a safe tourist destination, calling for more international tourists to visit the country.
He is confident that the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which launched its commercial operations on Nov. 16, will attract more international travelers to Cambodia.
"This new international airport is crucial to helping boost the country's tourism, economy, trade, and investment," he told Xinhua. "We hope it will attract new international airlines, so they will bring more tourists and investors to Cambodia, particularly to Siem Reap province." ■
