Cambodia Tourism: Recovery & Contrasts in 2024 🇰🇭

Cambodia’s tourism sector experienced a mixed performance in 2025, marked by a rebound in domestic travel and increased arrivals from China, but offset by an overall decline in international visitors and geopolitical tensions with Thailand.

Cambodia Tourism in 2025: A Year of Contrasts

Official statistics indicate Cambodia welcomed 5.17 million international visitors during the first 11 months of 2025, a 13.8% year-over-year (YoY) decrease. Despite the softening in international arrivals, the sector benefited from a surge in domestic travel, increasing 64.7% between May and October – a period traditionally affected by monsoon rains.

Arrivals from China rose by 45.6% YoY between January and August 2025, helping to counterbalance reduced numbers from Thailand. Thailand had previously been Cambodia’s largest source market in 2024, with over 1.3 million visitors, before experiencing impacts from border tensions last year.

The increase in domestic tourism is attributed, in part, to the government-backed Visit Cambodia in the Green Season campaign, which aimed to rebrand the monsoon months as an attractive time to visit.

While tourism peaked in 2018, accounting for 12.7% of Cambodia’s GDP, 2024 showed strong signs of recovery, with international arrivals reaching a record 6.7 million – indicating progress in the sector’s recovery from the pandemic.

Expanding Tourism Strategies

Cambodia’s tourism strategy also focuses on attracting India’s growing travel market, known for its increasing spending power and interest in experiential travel. Beyond this, efforts are being made to strengthen bilateral ties with other nations.

Lao Chheuy, founder and owner of Cambodia Overland Travel, expressed optimism based on the country’s consistent appeal. His company guided 10 to 15 tours daily in the past year, including tours of the Angkor temple complex.

Chheuy noted the continued appeal of Cambodia’s diverse offerings, stating, “[Cambodia] is still safe, welcoming, and full of experiences beyond the main highlights.” He also observed growing interest in community-based and nature travel, including destinations like the Mekong River islands, the Cardamom Mountains, Tonlé Sap’s landscapes, and the country’s islands and beaches.

Chheuy believes that improved flight connections and increased media coverage focusing on “Cambodia beyond Angkor” will further boost confidence in the destination.