Cambodia enjoys travel growth

08 May 2013 2052 | Cambodia Travel News

PHNOM PENH, 8 May 2013: Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered a 19.9% growth in February according to the country’s statistics and tourist Information Department.

The country welcomed 385,760 visits compared to 321,870 during the same month in 2012.

Released by the Ministry of Tourism, Monday, data showed neighbouring Vietnam was the top supplier with 58,750 visits, an increase of 4.4% over 56,297 visits in February last year.

Other top suppliers were: China (55,482; +104.9%); South Korea (49,330; -9.4%); Laos (29,984; +83.1%); and Japan (19,276; +7.0%).

Thailand ranked sixth supplying 18,964 visits and improving 35.0% compared to 14,050 visits during the same month last year.

In February, 52.8% (203,453) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap airport received the major share, 34.9% (134,465), while Phnom Penh Airport received just 17.9% (68,988) mainly business travellers who needed to contact government departments or budget travellers who starting or finishing their overland trips.

Overland travel accounts for 45.1% (174,036) of all travel through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam while sea travel is a small at 2.1% (8,271).

Siem Reap province welcomed 231,369 tourists, or 60.0% of all arrivals including air and overland. The province’s tourism increased 6.6%.

Data hints of the massive imbalance between tourist arrivals to Siem Reap and the rest of the country. The tourism authority has urged travel enterprises to provide more information and tour programmes on other destinations to encourage visitors to Angkor Wat to explore the country in more detail.

By region, Asia Pacific accounted for a 72.1% market share and posted a growth of 22.0% supplying 278,021 arrivals.

Africa grew 25.4% to just 519 visits followed by the Ameircas (+16.0%; 28,205); Europe (+14.4%; 77,610); Oceania (+4.6%; 10,854); and the Middle East (+0.0% 1,405).

Outbound trips by Cambodians in February reached 65,259 trips increasing 10.5% from 59,042 during the same month last year.

January to February, the country welcomed 789,866 foreign travellers improving 19.6% from 672,127 visits during the same period in 2012.

Outbound trips reached 136,979 growing 4.9% for the first two months of this year when compared to 130,583 last year.