Cambodia Sees Slight Dip in International Tourist Arrivals in First Seven Months of 2025

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Aug. 22, 2025) — Cambodia welcomed approximately 3.7 million international visitors from January to July 2025, marking a slight decline of 0.8% compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Thailand remained the top source of visitors with more than 940,000 arrivals, down 17.5% year-on-year. Vietnam followed with 710,000 visitors, a 5.7% decrease, while arrivals from Laos dropped 46.5% to just over 120,000. In contrast, Chinese tourist arrivals surged 48.2% to more than 680,000, and U.S. visitors rose 1.6% to over 130,000.

Tourism Minister H.E. Hout Hak said the sector continues to play a vital role in Cambodia’s socio-economic development. He noted that Chinese arrivals prior to the COVID-19 pandemic reached 2.4 million in 2019.

In 2024, Cambodia recorded 6.7 million international visitors, up 23% from 2023, including 850,000 Chinese tourists—a 55% increase.

The minister expressed optimism that the designation of 2025 as the “Cambodia-China Year of Tourism” will further boost Chinese arrivals, investment, and cultural exchange. The campaign includes joint events, exhibitions, and tourism-linked cultural programs held in both countries throughout the year.