Cambodia Urges Travelers to Avoid Bangkok Transit After Reports of Harassment and Luggage Loss

PARIS, Cambodia (Dec. 18, 2025) — The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in France has issued a travel advisory urging passengers traveling to Cambodia to avoid transiting through Bangkok, citing reports of excessive questioning, unreasonable checks, and baggage-related incidents at Thailand’s main international airport.

According to the advisory, European travelers transiting through Bangkok have faced prolonged interrogations before boarding, demands for proof of financial resources, and detailed scrutiny of accommodation bookings in Cambodia.

In several cases, these procedures were followed by searches and baggage handling issues, resulting in the loss of checked luggage upon arrival in Phnom Penh. The embassy advised travelers to choose alternative flight routes that do not involve transit through Thailand and to consider airlines offering more reliable and traveler-friendly connections to Cambodia.

The embassy stressed that the reported incidents occurred outside Cambodian territory and are beyond the responsibility of Cambodian authorities, but warned that they could significantly affect passengers’ travel experience. Reaffirming confidence in the Kingdom’s safety, the embassy emphasized that Cambodia remains a safe, welcoming, and accessible destination for international visitors.

Tourism data shows that Cambodia welcomed 4.75 million international tourists in the first 10 months of 2025, down 11.6 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Vietnam remained the largest source of visitors with more than 1 million arrivals, though numbers fell 6.8 percent.

China surged to nearly 1 million arrivals, a 44.6 percent increase year-on-year, while Thailand contributed about 990,000 visitors, a steep 42.3 percent decline. Arrivals from the United States and South Korea also dropped, by 2.6 percent and 12 percent respectively.

Tourism officials said the downturn reflected global economic uncertainty and regional travel disruptions, but noted that the rebound in Chinese arrivals underscored renewed confidence in Cambodia’s hospitality sector. The government has continued to promote Angkor Wat, coastal provinces, and eco-tourism destinations, while investing in infrastructure upgrades and streamlined visa processes to attract more visitors.