Cambodia has welcomed some 2.57 million international visitors in the first half of 2023, a skyrocketing increase of 409 percent from 506,762 over the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism’s report showed on Monday.

About 910,000 foreign tourists visited Cambodia by air, up 279 percent; 1.63 million by land, up 526 percent; and 30,000 by waterways, up 586 percent, the report stated, adding that the country registered a total of 10,635 international flights in the first six months of this year.

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

The ministry said Cambodia is able to receive up to 5 million international tourists in 2023, an expected increase of 120 percent from 2.27 million in 2022.

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

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