Cambodia Welcomed 4.7 Million International Tourists; Chinese Visitors Surge

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 4, 2025) — Cambodia welcomed 4.75 million international tourists in the first 10 months of 2025, an 11.6% drop from the same period last year, as global travel continues to be weighed down by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and lingering public health concerns.

Ministry of Tourism figures show uneven performance across major markets. Vietnam remained the largest source of visitors with more than 1 million arrivals, down 6.8%. China, however, recorded about 1 million visitors, a sharp 44.6% increase that underscored the rebound in outbound Chinese travel. Thailand sent roughly 990,000 tourists, a steep 42.3% decline, while arrivals from the United States and South Korea fell 2.6% and 12% respectively.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the PATA Cambodia Chapter, said global tourism remains vulnerable to instability and disease risks. He noted that Cambodia’s ability to sustain relatively stable numbers despite these pressures is “still notable.”

Sinan attributed the sharp fall in Thai arrivals to the temporary closure of the Cambodia–Thailand border, which disrupted casino-related travel. He stressed that the segment has limited economic benefit for Cambodia, as most profits flow to Thai and Chinese operators, leaving only tax revenues and some employment gains for local communities.

The Asian Development Bank reported continued recovery in Cambodia’s tourism sector during the first half of 2025, driven largely by the surge in Chinese visitors. But it warned that border tensions with Thailand could continue to disrupt tourism and broader service-sector activities in the months ahead.

Cambodia received 6.7 million international tourists in 2024, a 22.9% increase from 2023, highlighting the sector’s recovery momentum before current pressures slowed growth.