PHNOM PENH: Cambodia recorded some 3,92 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2023, a sharp increase of 210 percent from 1.26 million over the same period last year, a report of the Ministry of Tourism showed on Friday.

Thailand topped the chart among foreign arrivals to the Kingdom during the January-September period this year, followed by Vietnam, China, Laos, and the United States, it pointed out.

Some 1.34 million tourists arrived in Cambodia via international airports, a year-on-year increase of 185 percent, and the rest via land and waterways, the source added.

At the same time, the report stated the increase of Cambodian outbound tourists in the first three quarters by 144 percent to 1.32 million.

Tourism is a major pillar supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment export, agriculture, and construction, and real estate.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the number of international visitors to Cambodia is predicted to reach 7 million by 2025, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level of 6.6 million in 2019.

Cambodia is well known for its world cultural heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple and Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province.

Besides, the Kingdom has a 450-kilometer-long pristine coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.