PHNOM PENH: Cambodia attracted 1.58 million international tourists in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, up 22.5 percent from 1.29 million in the same period of 2023, said a Ministry of Tourism’s report released on Wednesday.
Thailand topped the chart among the international arrivals to the Kingdom in the above-mentioned period with some 449,781, a year-on-year decrease of 1.1 percent, the report said.
Some 299,391 Vietnamese, and 189,961 Chinese travelled to Cambodia during the three-month period, up 18.9 percent and 12 percent, respectively, it added.
About 40 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals were made via airport, a year-on-year increase of 33 percent, the source pointed out.
Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy.
The Kingdom has four world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in central Kampong Thom province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker archaeological site in northwest Preah Vihear province.
Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching in the length of about 450 km in four southwest provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong.
The Royal Government of Cambodia launched earlier April the ‘Visit Siem Reap 2024’ Campaign to attract more visitors to Cambodia’s tourist hotspot, which is having a hard time recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, has called on all tourism officials, local authorities and tour agents to work hand in hand to initiate more tourism activities in Siem Reap province.
The ministry’s report showed that Cambodia outbound tourists inched up by 1.7 percent to some 415,909 during January-March period of this year.
Last year, the Kingdom received 5.45 million foreign visitors, earning gross revenue of US$3.08 billion, according to the Ministry of Tourism.