Cambodia records 50.7 pct rise in Chinese tourist arrivals in H1 2025

PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has reported a 50.7-percent year-on-year increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the first half of 2025, said the Ministry of Tourism's latest report released on Saturday.

A total of 586,771 Chinese visitors traveled to the Southeast Asian country during the January-June period of this year, said the report.

The number of Chinese tourists accounted for 17.4 percent of the total 3.36 million international tourist arrivals to Cambodia in the first half of this year, it said, adding that China was the third-biggest source of foreign holidaymakers to the kingdom after Thailand and Vietnam.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said the remarkable 50.7-percent increase in Chinese visitors in the first half year indicated strong and growing interest from China.

"With the easing of travel restrictions and increased bilateral cooperation, I expect this trend to continue into the second half of the year," he told Xinhua.

"The rising middle class in China, coupled with targeted marketing and expanded flight routes, should further boost Chinese arrivals," Sinan said. "However, maintaining this growth will depend on sustained flight connectivity, visa facilitation, and the continued appeal of Cambodia's tourism offerings to Chinese travelers."

He added that overall, Cambodia's tourism sector appears poised for positive growth in the second half of 2025, supported by both regional and global trends, provided that strategic efforts are maintained.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.■