Cambodia enjoys 5% tourism growth

PHNOM PENH  Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered an increase of 5% during January to November, last year, according to the country’s Statistics and Tourist Information Department.

Released by the Ministry of Tourism, late last week, the country welcomed 4,200,432 international travellers up 5% from 4,002,196 visits in 2014.

Outbound trips by Cambodians reached 1,094,598 growing 24.9% for the first 11 months of 2015 compared to 876,072 trips during the same period in 2014.

In November alone, the country recorded 444,640 trips improving 8.1% over 411,501 during the same month in 2014.

Vietnam led the supply markets with 79,521 visits, down 1.2% from 80,472 during the same month in 2014.

Other markets in th top five were: China (56,499; +7.8%); Laos (44,190; -1.5%); Thailand (41,673; +69.6%); and South Korea (28,625; -14.4%).

The data reported 52.8% (234,678) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap Airport gained the major market share at 30.8% (136,952). Phnom Penh Airport secured a market share of 22.0% (97,726).

Overland travel accounted for 44.1% (195,897) through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam while sea travel represented a small 3.2% (14,065).

In addition, Phnom Penh and other destinations enjoyed a market share of 47.9% attracting 244,128 visitors, while Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat, accounted for 39.3%, or 200,512 visits. Coastal areas had a market share of 11.5% with 58,684 visits, while ecotourism areas accounted for a 1.2% receiving 6,365 visits.

By region, Asia Pacific accounted for a 74.1% market share and posted an increase of 6.3% supporting 329,512 visits up from 309,895.

Africa recorded an increase of 25.3% with 673 visits followed by the Americas (+10.9%; 32,054), Middle East (+14.8%; 1,329), Europe (+10.8; 81,072), and Oceania (+7.3%; 14,392).

Outbound trips by Cambodians in November, last year, reached 108,859 increasing 25.8% from 86,560 during the same month in 2014.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon told local media that the kingdom will be the lead country in the rollout of the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS).

It attempts to give destinations in ASEAN a standard to maintain and improve cleanliness of facilities used by visitors.