Cambodia & Tourism: Promoting the “Green Season” during the monsoon season
- Voyageuse Passion
- 27 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Cambodia's Minister of Tourism, H.E. Huot Hak, is spearheading an initiative to rebrand the country's traditional low tourist season as the “green season”, with the aim of reinvigorating travel during the monsoon months.
The campaign, backed by Prime Minister Hun Manet, aims to change perceptions by highlighting Cambodia's lush landscapes, milder climate and fresh air during the April to October period, traditionally considered less favorable for tourism.
At a recent meeting of the working group, Minister Huot Hak called on the private sector to participate actively by offering discounts on accommodation and catering, improving hospitality services and organizing culturally rich tourism events in Phnom Penh and the provinces. He stressed that these efforts must be strategic, creative and deeply rooted in Khmer cultural identity in order to attract more visitors and sustain year-round growth.
The initiative is part of Cambodia's broader tourism strategy to promote year-round travel and diversify destinations beyond well-known sites. With nearly 2 million international tourists arriving in the first quarter of 2025, a 16% increase on the previous year, the Ministry is optimistic about the country's tourism potential, underpinned by political stability, law and order and expanding infrastructure, including Phnom Penh's future Techo International Airport.
Industry leaders advocate focusing on regional markets such as ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea during the green season, as European travelers generally avoid monsoon periods. The season also offers unique opportunities for agrotourism and fruit harvesting, showcasing local produce such as mangoes, oranges and durians.
The “Green Season” campaign reflects Cambodia's commitment to sustainable tourism development, combining economic growth with environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. By repositioning the monsoon months as a time of natural beauty and authentic experiences, Cambodia aims to strengthen its global appeal and foster resilient tourism growth in a competitive international market.
Tourists who visit Cambodia during the green season enjoy a range of unique experiences that showcase the country's natural beauty and cultural richness in a way that is not possible during the dry months :
Monsoon rains transform Angkor and its surroundings into a verdant paradise, with temple stones covered in bright green moss and lichen, moats and reservoirs filled to the brim creating perfect reflections, and jungle vegetation taking on a brilliant emerald green hue. This seasonal transformation offers visitors a striking and photogenic backdrop, making it Angkor's most beautiful and least crowded period.
Spectacular cloud formations, brilliant sunsets after rain, morning mist and rain-caked surfaces create ethereal, colorful scenes ideal for photographers. Visitors can capture stunning images of temples like Ta Prohm and Pre Rup with fewer people and unique lighting effects.
The green season coincides with important Cambodian cultural events such as Buddhist Lent (Chol Vossa), when monks begin a three-month retreat in the rain, and the Pchum Ben ancestor festival, which features colorful temple ceremonies. Tourists can also take part in traditional rice planting and harvesting activities in rural areas, giving them an authentic insight into Khmer agricultural life.
The Tonle Sap lake is four times larger than in the dry season, allowing excursions to floating villages that present unique lifestyles and aquatic ecosystems on their most impressive scale.
Despite higher humidity levels, temperatures during the green season are cooler than during the drier months, with afternoon rains bringing coolness and cloud cover providing shade, making temple exploration more enjoyable and less crowded.
Fewer tourists mean more intimate experiences at the main sites, better service and often lower prices on accommodation and excursions, enhancing the overall travel experience.
These distinctive elements combine to offer visitors a deeply immersive, visually stunning and culturally rich experience that is likely to define Cambodia's monsoon months as a prime travel season.