Cambodia Expects Surge in Indian Tourists as Direct Siem Reap Flights Expand, Angkor’s Hindu Heritage Draws Interest

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (Dec. 29, 2025) — Cambodia is expecting a sharp rise in Indian tourist arrivals following the launch of direct flights to Siem Reap and growing interest in the Kingdom’s Hindu heritage sites, local tourism leaders said.

The Angkor Tourist Guide Association reported early growth momentum after IndiGo Airlines began direct flights from Kolkata to Siem Reap on Nov. 13. Association president Khiev Thy said about 300 Indian tourists are now visiting Siem Reap weekly, with numbers expected to climb as Cambodia becomes more widely known among Indian travelers.

“In the future, we believe Indian tourists will increase significantly because they are becoming more familiar with Cambodia,” he said. “Following the recent destruction of the Vishnu statue inside Cambodian territory by Thai forces, there has been strong public reaction in India, and this is also drawing more Indians to visit Cambodia.”

India has become one of Cambodia’s fastest growing tourism markets. In 2024, more than 75,000 Indian tourists visited Cambodia, attracted by UNESCO listed Angkor heritage, Hindu Buddhist temples and an expanding hospitality sector.

Overall, Cambodia welcomed 5.17 million international visitors in the first 11 months of 2025, a 13.8% drop compared with the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Vietnamese tourists topped arrivals with 1.11 million, followed by 1.1 million Chinese, while Thai visitors fell sharply to about 1 million.