PHNOM PENH: Cambodia recorded some 3.03 million international visitors in the first seven of 2023, a sharp increase of 308 percent from 743,459 over the same period last year, a Ministry of Tourism report showed on Wednesday.

Thailand topped the chart among the international arrivals to the country during the January-July period this year, followed by Vietnam, China, Laos, and the United States, read the report.

The ministry has said that the number of foreign visitors to Cambodia is predicted to reach 7 million in 2025, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level of 6.6 million in 2019.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy, in addition to garment export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.

According to the ministry, in 2022, more than 2.2 million international tourists visited Cambodia, an increase of 1,059 percent compared to 2021.

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

Besides, it has a 450-km pristine coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.