Final figures '25: Cambodia sees drop in arrivals, rise in spend

Cambodia’s tourism industry closed 2025 with mixed results, recording fewer international arrivals but stronger revenue, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s official statistics.

The country welcomed 5.57 million international tourists, a 16.9 per cent drop compared to 2024. In contrast, domestic travel surged, with 25.16 million Cambodian travellers exploring within the country, marking an 11.7 per cent increase.

Outbound tourism fell sharply, with only 1.36 million Cambodians travelling abroad, a 26.4 per cent decrease year-on-year.

Despite the decline in foreign arrivals, international tourism receipts rose to $3.878 billion, up 6.6 per cent. Officials attributed this to higher spending per visitor and stronger value generation across the sector.

Tourism continues to play a vital role in Cambodia’s economy, contributing 9.4 per cent of GDP. The industry also supports around 420,000 direct jobs, while infrastructure and services expanded steadily. The country now counts 95,588 hotel and guesthouse rooms, 2,301 restaurants, and 652 licensed tour operators and travel agencies.

Other facilities underline the sector’s diversity: 57 resorts, 129 community-based tourism sites, 6,605 tour guides, 510 massage and spa licences, 55 sports tourism sites, and 584 adult entertainment venues.

Officials highlighted that while international arrivals dipped, the resilience of domestic tourism and rising revenue demonstrate the sector’s adaptability. The figures suggest Cambodia’s tourism industry is shifting towards greater reliance on local travellers and higher-value international visitors, ensuring its continued importance to the national economy.

-2026-05-10