PHNOM PENH-January 19, 2024: Cambodia attracted some 5.43 million international tourists in 2023, a sharp increase of 139 percent from 2.27 million in 2022, the Ministry of Tourism pointed out in a report on Friday.
Thailand topped the chart among foreign arrivals to the Kingdom with 1.82 million, followed by Vietnam (1.01 million), China (547,789), Laos (372,285), and the U.S. (184,780), the source underlined.
A total of 1.86 million foreign tourists arrived in Cambodia via the three international airports, while the rest entered the country through border gates and by waterway, it added.
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.
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.
Last year, the number of Cambodian outbound tourists increased by 87 percent to 1.81 million, according to the report.