Cambodia tourism plunges nearly 48% in first half of 2026

Cambodia tourism plunges nearly 48% in first half of 2026

Cambodia’s international arrivals fell 47.9% to 1.75 million in the first half of 2026, down from 3.36 million a year earlier, the Ministry of Tourism said yesterday.

China, Vietnam and the United States were the top three inbound markets from January to June. Cambodia attracted an estimated 452,200 Chinese visitors, about 447,700 Vietnamese visitors and 104,640 American visitors, representing year‑on‑year declines of around 23%, 28% and 11%, respectively.

China‑ASEAN Studies Centre deputy director Thong Mengdavid at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science attributed the downturn to regional economic slowdowns, online scamming concerns and border disputes with Thailand. He added that conflicts in the Middle East triggered flight disruptions and high fuel prices.

Tourism remains one of four pillars of Cambodia’s economy, alongside agriculture, construction and real estate, and the export of garments, footwear and travel goods. In 2025, the country recorded 5.57 million international visitors, generating $3.87 billion in gross revenue.

khmertimeskh