PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia attracted a total of 3.36 million international tourists in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year rise of 6.2 percent, said a Ministry of Tourism report released on Saturday.
Thailand topped the chart among foreign tourist arrivals to the Southeast Asian country during the January-June period this year, followed by Vietnam and China, the report said.
Some 928,027 Thais and 619,300 Vietnamese traveled to Cambodia, down 2.8 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively, the report said, adding that 586,771 Chinese visited the Southeast Asian country, up 50.7 percent.
Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said that given the positive 6.2-percent increase in international arrivals in the first half of the year, he is optimistic about continued growth in the latter half of 2025.
"Factors such as ongoing infrastructure improvements, increased marketing efforts, and the recovery of global travel confidence are likely to sustain or even accelerate this upward trend," he told Xinhua.
"Additionally, Cambodia's rich cultural heritage and natural attractions remain strong draws for international tourists. However, potential challenges such as geopolitical developments or global economic fluctuations could influence growth, so ongoing monitoring and adaptive strategies will be essential," he said.
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. ■
