Cambodia has seen a 5.6% drop in international tourist arrivals during the first eight months of 2025, according to figures released Friday by the Ministry of Tourism. The country welcomed 4.05 million foreign visitors between January and August, down from 4.29 million over the same period last year.

 

Thailand remained the top source of inbound travellers, though numbers fell sharply. Just over 962,000 Thais visited Cambodia—a 28.2% decline. Vietnamese arrivals also dipped by 6.9%, totalling 808,471. In contrast, Chinese tourism surged, with nearly 785,000 visitors marking a 45.7% increase.

 

Experts say the overall decline reflects broader regional economic headwinds and stiff competition from neighbouring destinations. “It also highlights the lingering challenges in air connectivity and destination diversification,” said Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

 

Mengdavid pointed to the newly opened Techo International Airport as a potential game-changer. With expanded flight capacity and modern infrastructure, the airport is expected to boost Cambodia’s appeal to long-haul and regional travellers.

 

Tourism remains one of Cambodia’s key economic pillars, alongside garment and travel goods exports, agriculture, and construction. As the country looks to rebound, improving access and diversifying its offerings will be crucial to regaining momentum.

 

 

-2025-10-05

I bet if they did this from june when the land borders closed they will see a HUGE drop in arrivals from Thailand

 

 

Maybe air travel to Malaysia is a problem?....but it strikes me you could have a dozen major airports dotted all over........but airports and flight schedules are not what attracts tourists.

I am surprised they still have Thai tourists.