The revival of international travel has brought hope to Cambodia’s tourism industry. In 2022, the number of international tourists visiting Cambodia reached 2.28 million, an increase of 1,059% compared to 2021 and surpassing the government’s target of 2 million inbound travelers. Thailand was the largest source market, followed by Vietnam and China. With the return of Chinese outbound travel starting in February 2023, the Kingdom targeted 4 million overseas arrivals, generating 4 billion USD in tourism revenue, in 2023. The Ministry of Tourism recently organized a training workshop for evaluators of the “China Ready” assessment system, which helps certify and strengthen the quality of tourism services to welcome Chinese tourists.
The “Visit Cambodia Year 2023” theme focuses on heritage and culture, ecotourism, coastal tourism, and Khmer identity while also promoting the historic hosting of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in May and the ASEAN Para Games in June. The Ministry of Tourism has also identified the improvement of Tourist Information Centres (TIC) nationwide as a core task for the Cambodia tourism recovery roadmap. TICs help tourists access clear and accurate travel information, thus enhancing tourist satisfaction. Developing a skilled tourism workforce is also a priority. The government has integrated tourism-related subjects into the high school curriculum with both practical and theoretical classes. At the same time, targeted capacity building to empower women in the tourism sector remains a focus area to strengthen female participation and protect their rights in line with the government’s policies and programs
To facilitate longer stays, the Ministry of Tourism recently announced that cruise ship passengers could apply for a D-type visa that allows them to stay in Cambodia for five days. The country is also working to diversify tourism products with a focus on ecotourism and community-based tourism development. These areas feature rising attractions such as Phnom Aural wildlife sanctuary, Preah Theat Basrey temple, farm stays in Thma Bang District, and Anlung Pring Protected Landscape community in Kampong Trach District.
Further, the Cambodian government continues to strengthen regional cooperation to foster tourism. By joining hands with Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam, the four GMS countries adopted a three-year joint action program on tourism cooperation from 2023-2025 with the aim of facilitating intraregional travel, leveraging capacity building, accelerating private sector engagement, enhancing product development, and fostering joint promotion and safety. Moreover, the Ministry of Tourism has joined several dialogues with China, India, the Maldives, and Singapore to enhance tourism linkages with these countries through new direct flights and cross-promotion.
As responsible tourism continues to gain momentum globally, modern-day tourists are looking for more meaningful trips that will help them reconnect with nature and protect the planet. Therefore, Cambodia has also envisioned tourism development in line with sustainability. The country has initiated several projects on ecotourism and pollution reduction in the tourism sector with financial support from development partners. Some exciting pilot projects include transforming Preah Sihanouk into a plastic-free destination, while the town of Kampot is set to be a leading example of a smoking-free destination.