More Cambodians Traveling Abroad as Tourists

The number of Cambodians traveling overseas as tourists increased to nearly 700,000 in the first half of the year, up 26 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Experts in the industry welcomed this trend and pointed out that more Cambodians are able to afford overseas travel due to the country’s economic growth. Outbound Cambodian tourists between January to June reached 699,654, compared to 533,014 in the same period last year, according to the June report from the Tourism Ministry’s department of statistics and information.
 

The department’s director, Kong Sophearak, said the number of Cambodian tourists traveling overseas was high and this was mainly due to the economic growth of the country. “Though Cambodia is a small country, it is becoming a tourist exporter to neighboring countries,” said Mr. Sophearak.
 

Ho Vandy, secretary-general of Cambodia’s National Tourism Federation, told Khmer Times that the average income of Cambodians was increasing and because of that, they could afford to travel to neighboring countries. Mr. Vandy pointed out that Cambodians traveling overseas, especially to neighboring countries, also took the opportunity to “explore business opportunities and have medical check-ups.”

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