Cambodia reports tourism gains

09 Aug 2011 2087 | Cambodia Travel News

Cambodia’s statistics and tourism information department released the latest tourism statistics report, January to June, showing the country’s tourist arrivals grew 13.4% (1,385,029) year-on-year.

In June, the country received 193,272 international tourists, a 16.2% increase over the same month of 2010.

From January to June, 714,373 foreign visitors arrived by air – 29% (403,909) coming through Siem Reap, the country’s prime tourist destination and 22.4% through the capital city Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, 45.5% (629,537) of visitors travelled overland through immigration check points bordering Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Tourists from these three neighbouring countries accounted for 28.38% overall. Vietnam was the top supplier over six months — 289,739, up 18.5%.

Thailand is still off the top 10 list. A drop in travel was attributed to a dispute between the two countries over border demarcation. During the first half of 2010, Thailand was the fifth supplier with 75,695 trips, while this year it fell to 12th place with 48,136 tourists down 36.4%.

Korea and China were second (172,568) and third (113,775) showing a substantial improvement of 19.8% and 34.9% respectively.

Air France’s commencement of nonstop services between Paris and Phnom Penh improved traffic by 8.4% from France during the six-month period. Previously the flights were routed via Bangkok.

Tourists from Russia increased by 118% from just 16,166, last year to 35,297. The market is now 13th.

In June, out of 193,272 international tourists, 90,010 arrived by air, while 103,262 travelled by land transport. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports handled almost the same numbers – 45,554 and 44,456 respectively.

Top five source countries were Vietnam (55,251, +29.4%); Korea (21,512,, +15.5%); China (14,244, +45.7%); Laos (11,945, +59.1%) and the US (11,152, +5%).

Arrivals from Thailand gradually improved after the border tension eased, so by May it was back in the 10 top supplier list for that month, while arrivals increased to 6,749 in June from 6,576 in May.