Phnom penh: Cambodia attracted a total of 2.95 million international tourists in the first five months of 2025, marking an 11.7 percent increase from the 2.64 million recorded in the same period last year, according to a report from the Ministry of Tourism issued on July 1.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the top five markets for arrivals to the Kingdom were Thailand, Vietnam, China, the United States, and Laos, as per the Ministry of Tourism's report. The Ministry's Secretary of State and Spokeswoman H.E. Mrs. Hun Dany highlighted the important connection between peace, robust political stability, and the increase in foreign tourist numbers.
Mrs. Hun Dany stated that peace and political stability are essential in attracting tourists, emphasizing that foreign tourists would refrain from visiting Cambodia in the absence of these conditions. She also credited the rise in foreign tourist arrivals to the combined efforts of the Royal Government and the private sector's effective promotional strategies for the tourism sector, along with improved airport facilities.
Tourism remains a critical pillar of Cambodia's economy, alongside garment, footwear, travel goods, agriculture, and construction and real estate sectors. The Ministry of Tourism has set an ambitious target of receiving 7.5 million international tourists in 2025. Meanwhile, the report noted that Cambodia's outbound tourists slightly decreased by 1.2 percent to 736,321.
Last year, the Kingdom saw approximately 6.7 million foreign tourists, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 11.7 percent, according to the ministry's report.