Cambodia tourism decline eases in August but arrivals remain down
International visitor arrivals fell 24.7 per cent year-on-year in August.
Key takeaways:
- Cambodia recorded 2.25 million international tourist arrivals between January and August 2026, down 44.4 per cent year-on-year. August arrivals fell 24.7 per cent to 254,877, a slower decline than the 29.2 per cent recorded in July.
- Land arrivals dropped 62.9 per cent to 784,088, while air arrivals decreased 24.9 per cent to 1.41 million.
- Arrivals from Thailand fell 95 per cent to 47,813, while China remained Cambodia’s largest source market with 588,051 visitors.
Cambodia.- International tourist arrivals to Cambodia were down 44.4 per cent year-on-year to 2.25 million in the first eight months of 2026. The latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism show that arrivals were down by 24.7 per cent in August at 254,877. That’s a slower rate of decline than the 29.2 per cent recorded in July but 50.9 per cent below pre-pandemic levels in August 2019.
Between January and August, land arrivals fell 62.9 per cent year-on-year to 784,088, while arrivals by land and waterways combined declined 61.2 per cent to 841,136. Air arrivals also decreased, although at a slower pace. The country received 1.41 million international visitors by air during the eight-month period, down 24.9 per cent year-on-year.
Techo International Airport, the country’s main gateway in Phnom Penh, recorded 981,046 international arrivals, a decrease of 30.7 per cent. Siem Reap Angkor International Airport received 362,340 international tourists, down 15.3 per cent.
Sihanouk International Airport was an exception to the trend. International arrivals through the coastal gateway rose 85.9 per cent to 68,176, compared with 36,675 in the first eight months of 2025.
China remained the largest source of international visitors, with 588,051 arrivals between January and August, down 25.1 per cent year-on-year. Vietnam followed closely with 585,711 arrivals, a decrease of 27.6 per cent.
The sharpest contraction among the main source markets was recorded in Thailand. Arrivals from the neighbouring country fell 95 per cent to 47,813, compared with 962,462 during the same period in 2025. Meanwhile, arrivals from South Korean were down 53.4 per cent to 55,647, visitor numbers from the United States fell 7.3 per cent to 129,876, and arrivals from the United Kingdom decreased 14.2 per cent to 77,913.
Asia and the Pacific accounted for 75.3 per cent of all international arrivals in the first eight months of 2026. However, visitor numbers from the region fell 49.7 per cent year-on-year, while arrivals from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declined 61.6 per cent.
In contrast, Cambodian visitors to destinations across the country increased 48.5 per cent year-on-year to 25.66 million during the first eight months of 2026.
Cambodia looks to revive tourism
Cambodia is seeking to reverse the decline in international arrivals. As previously reported by Focus Gaming News, authorities and private-sector representatives have discussed expanding visa-free access to additional markets and increasing direct international flights as part of efforts to attract more visitors.
Cambodia introduced a temporary visa exemption for Chinese passport holders from June 15 to October 15, 2026, allowing stays of up to 14 days. The measure was intended to encourage travel from one of the country’s largest source markets.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- How many international tourists visited Cambodia in the first eight months of 2026? Cambodia recorded 2,252,698 international tourist arrivals between January and August 2026, down from 4,050,227 in the same period of 2025.
- Why are tourist arrivals to Cambodia declining? The article reports steep falls in land arrivals and visitors from key regional markets, but does not establish a single cause for the overall decline.
- Which country is the biggest source market for tourists to Cambodia? China was Cambodia’s largest source market in the first eight months of 2026, with 588,051 arrivals, followed closely by Vietnam with 585,711.
- What is Cambodia doing to revive tourism? Authorities and private-sector representatives have discussed expanding visa-free access and increasing direct international flights. A temporary visa exemption also allows Chinese passport holders to stay for up to 14 days between 15 June and 15 October 2026.
