Cambodia's tourism sector shows sustained growth in early 2025 as global recovery begins

The Cambodian tourism industry continued its strong recovery in the first quarter of 2025, with 1.84 million international arrivals, representing a 16.1% increase compared to 2024, despite a slight decline of 2.1% compared to the 2019 pre-pandemic baseline. This upward trend reflects the sustained momentum that followed the sector's spectacular rebound after the COVID-19 crisis.

Tourists visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province (Photo: Sao Khuth/Xinhua)

International arrivals and modes of transport

Air transport accounted for 42.9% of tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2025, with Phnom Penh International Airport receiving the majority of arrivals (544,764), followed by Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (231,701) and Sihanoukville International Airport (12,919). Although air arrivals increased by 23% compared to 2024, they remain 39.2% below 2019 levels, indicating that there is still room for recovery in terms of air connectivity and capacity.

Land and river crossings accounted for 57.1% of arrivals, with land entries increasing by 11.9% compared to 2024 and 81.2% compared to 2019, highlighting the importance of regional land travel, particularly from neighboring countries.

Main source markets

Thailand remains Cambodia's leading source market, with 501,666 visitors in the first quarter of 2025, up 19.5% from 2024 and accounting for 27.3% of total arrivals. China follows with 286,156 visitors, up 50.6% from the previous year, reflecting renewed confidence among Chinese tourists. Vietnam and the United States also recorded gains, while some markets such as the Lao People's Democratic Republic experienced declines (-29%) due to geopolitical restrictions or travel restrictions.

European visitors increased by 28.7%, with notable growth from the United Kingdom (+30.7%), Russia (+63.8%) and Central and Eastern European countries, highlighting Cambodia's growing appeal to a diverse international clientele. The Americas and Africa also contributed to moderate growth, with arrivals up 11.1% and 25% respectively.

Tourism revenue and economic impact

Tourism revenue reached approximately $3.64 billion in 2024, an increase of 22.9% over the previous year, contributing 9.4% to Cambodia's GDP. The sector's share remains below the pre-pandemic peak of over 12%, but shows a significant recovery from the low of 3.6% reached in 2022.

Domestic and regional tourism

Domestic tourism showed mixed results in early 2025, with a slight decline in the number of Cambodian visitors to Phnom Penh (-12%) and Siem Reap (-31%), while the number of foreign visitors to coastal and ecotourism areas increased by 19.2% and 33.1%, respectively. This suggests a shift in domestic travelers' preferences and a growing interest in nature-based tourism.

Outbound tourism

In the first quarter of 2025, the number of Cambodian tourists abroad stood at 441,803, an increase of 6.2% compared to 2024, but still below 2019 levels. International tourist departures from Cambodia also increased by 16.5%, reflecting increased mobility and improved regional connectivity.

Challenges and outlook

Despite strong growth, the tourism sector faces challenges, including an uneven recovery across different modes of transport, fluctuating arrivals from key markets, and the need to diversify tourism products. The slight decline in arrivals compared to 2019 highlights the lingering effects of global economic uncertainties and regional competition.

Looking ahead, Cambodian tourism authorities intend to capitalize on increased travel in the region, improve infrastructure, and promote sustainable tourism to further boost arrivals and economic benefits in 2025 and beyond.