Tourism Campaign to Bring Asian Visitors as Cambodia Pushes Stronger Promotion

PHNOM PENH, May 20, 2026 (KPT) — A nationwide tourism campaign is set to bring hundreds of Asian travel buyers to Cambodia this month, as the private sector intensifies efforts to boost arrivals from China and regional markets.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter said its “CTM MINI‑SERIES 2026” will run from May 23–29 in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk, connecting more than 300 international buyers with around 1,800 Cambodian tourism businesses.

Organizers expect the programme to generate up to 15 million digital impressions globally through monthly trade and marketing activities.

Cambodia welcomed about 1.16 million international tourists in the first quarter of 2026, led by visitors from China, Vietnam, Thailand and the United States. While arrivals showed resilience, ticket sales at Angkor Wat fell 32 percent year‑on‑year to 270,911, generating US$13.1 million in revenue. Officials say the new campaign is designed to reignite demand and diversify visitor sources.

Chairman Dr. Thourn Sinan said domestic participation from local operators remains limited despite growing international interest.

He noted previous campaigns attracted buyers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Vietnam, China and Myanmar, with several markets already preparing Cambodia travel packages. Indonesia is expected to begin sending tourists to coastal destinations from June, while Vietnam and Myanmar are expanding Cambodia‑focused tours.

Sinan urged businesses to play a more active role, saying: “We should move away from simply waiting for tourists to arrive. We must actively welcome visitors and work together to promote Cambodia’s destinations.”

The campaign also supports the government’s new visa‑free policy for Chinese tourists from mid‑June to mid‑October, with this month’s programme specifically targeting Chinese buyers and regional partners.