Cambodia recorded 2.46 million international tourist arrivals during the first nine months of 2026, a year-on-year decline of 43.7%, as regional tensions, negative publicity surrounding online scam networks and global travel pressures weigh on the country’s tourism sector. However, domestic tourism provided a contrasting bright spot, with local trips increasing 46% to 27.2 million over the same period.
According to figures from the Ministry of Tourism, international arrivals fell from approximately 4.37 million in January–September 2025 to 2,464,033 in the corresponding period of 2026. Tourism Minister Huot Hak has called for closer cooperation between government agencies and private businesses to strengthen promotion, diversify tourism products and improve service quality.
The figures highlight the challenges facing Cambodia’s tourism industry and the importance of rebuilding international traveller confidence while making better use of domestic tourism demand.
Key Facts
International arrivals, January–September 2026: 2,464,033.
Year-on-year change: Down 43.7%.
International arrivals, January–September 2025: Approximately 4.37 million.
Domestic tourism trips in 2026: 27.2 million.
Domestic tourism growth: Up 46% year-on-year.
Leading international source markets: Vietnam, China and the United States.
Share of tourist arrivals and departures by air: 62.3%, according to the Ministry of Tourism report.
Tourism minister: Huot Hak.
Key priorities: Tourism promotion, product diversification, service quality and public-private cooperation.
Cambodia’s International Tourist Arrivals Fall Sharply
The Ministry of Tourism’s latest figures show a substantial contraction in international visitor arrivals during the first nine months of 2026.
Cambodia welcomed 2,464,033 international visitors between January and September, compared with 4,377,466 during the same period in 2025. The decline of 43.7% represents a major setback for an industry that contributes to employment, business activity and foreign-currency earnings.
The downturn comes despite Cambodia’s established cultural attractions, including the Angkor Archaeological Park, as well as its coastal destinations, natural landscapes and urban tourism offerings.
The figures also point to the importance of distinguishing between international arrivals and domestic travel. While foreign visitor numbers have fallen considerably, domestic tourism has expanded, suggesting that local demand remains an important component of the sector.
Vietnam and China Remain Cambodia’s Largest Visitor Markets
Vietnam and China continued to rank among Cambodia’s largest international source markets during January–September 2026, although arrivals from both countries declined significantly.
| Source market | Arrivals in 2026 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 651,486 | Down 28.1% |
| China | 643,314 | Down 27.6% |
| United States | 140,276 | Down 5.6% |
<text color="secondary" size="xs">Source: Figures reported in the supplied Ministry of Tourism coverage. Reporting period: January–September 2026.</text>
Vietnam recorded 651,486 arrivals, down from 906,398 in the first nine months of 2025. Chinese arrivals reached 643,314, compared with 889,089 a year earlier.
The United States recorded 140,276 arrivals, a smaller decline of 5.6% from 148,632 during the corresponding period in 2025.
The data suggest that the downturn is not confined to a single international market. The decline across Cambodia’s two largest source markets is particularly significant because both contribute substantial shares of total international arrivals.
For tourism businesses, these trends underline the need to maintain relationships with existing markets while exploring opportunities to attract visitors from a wider range of countries.
Tourism Minister Identifies Regional and Global Challenges
Tourism Minister Huot Hak attributed the decline to a combination of regional and international pressures.
According to the reporting, these include negative publicity surrounding online scam networks, tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border and conflicts in the Middle East that have contributed to higher fuel prices and weaker global travel sentiment.
These factors present different challenges for the tourism industry. Concerns about online scams can affect perceptions of destination safety, while regional tensions and international conflicts may influence travel decisions, transportation costs and visitor confidence.
Addressing these concerns requires coordinated responses rather than destination marketing alone.
The minister has urged closer cooperation between government institutions and private-sector stakeholders to strengthen Cambodia’s tourism promotion and support recovery.
The source material does not quantify how much of the decline can be attributed to each factor, so their individual contributions cannot be established from the reported figures.
Government Calls for Stronger Tourism Promotion and Better Services
In response to declining international arrivals, Huot Hak has called for government agencies, provincial authorities, tourism associations and private businesses to work more closely together.
The stated priorities include strengthening promotional activities, diversifying tourism products and improving service quality for domestic and international visitors.
These priorities reflect the need to address both destination awareness and the visitor experience. Marketing can help communicate Cambodia’s attractions, while service quality and effective visitor support can influence satisfaction and the likelihood of repeat visits.
Provincial authorities and tourism businesses also have a role in developing destination-specific experiences and communicating them to potential travellers.
However, the report did not announce a new national marketing budget, specific promotional campaign, visitor-arrival target or timetable for recovery.
The impact of these measures will depend on their implementation and on whether they address the concerns affecting potential visitors.
Domestic Tourism Grows 46% to 27.2 Million Trips
While international arrivals declined, domestic tourism recorded strong growth.
The Ministry of Tourism reported 27.2 million domestic tourism trips during January–September 2026, representing a 46% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The growth provides a contrasting picture of Cambodia’s tourism market. Although international visitor numbers have fallen, domestic travel has continued to generate activity for destinations and tourism-related businesses.
Local visitors can support hotels, restaurants, transport operators, attractions and other service providers. Strong domestic demand may therefore offer some businesses an opportunity to sustain operations while international tourism remains under pressure.
However, the reported figure refers to domestic tourism trips and should not automatically be interpreted as 27.2 million unique individuals. The supplied report does not provide a breakdown by destination, spending, trip duration or accommodation use.
Further data would be needed to assess how the increase has translated into tourism revenue and how benefits are distributed across provinces and business categories.
Air Travel Accounts for 62.3% of Tourist Arrivals and Departures
According to the Ministry of Tourism report, air travel accounted for 62.3% of tourist arrivals and departures, while the remainder travelled through land border checkpoints and waterways.
The figure highlights the importance of aviation connectivity to Cambodia’s tourism sector, alongside cross-border land travel and water-based routes.
Air access can be particularly important for long-haul visitors and travellers arriving from markets without convenient overland connections. Maintaining suitable routes and making travel accessible can support destination promotion.
At the same time, the reported share does not indicate whether air arrivals themselves increased or decreased during the period. It describes the share attributed to air travel, rather than the direction of change in that transport segment.
For policymakers and tourism businesses, understanding changes by transport mode and source market could help guide future promotion and connectivity decisions.
Cambodia’s Tourism Performance Compared with 2025
Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million international tourists in 2025, generating approximately US$3.87 billion in gross tourism revenue, according to the supplied report.
The sharp decline in arrivals during the first nine months of 2026 contrasts with that annual performance and highlights the challenges facing the sector.
However, a direct comparison between nine-month arrivals in 2026 and full-year figures for 2025 would not provide an equivalent measure. A more accurate assessment of annual performance would require the final 2026 figures and comparable reporting periods.
The 2025 results nevertheless provide context for the economic importance of international tourism and the potential implications of a prolonged contraction.
Angkor Times Analysis: How Cambodia Can Strengthen Tourism Recovery?
Cambodia’s latest tourism figures reveal two simultaneous developments: a severe decline in international arrivals and strong growth in domestic tourism. The contrast suggests that recovery efforts need to address international confidence while also supporting the domestic market.
First, rebuilding international traveller confidence is essential. Negative publicity related to online scams and concerns about safety can affect destination perceptions. Clear public information, credible safety measures and effective communication may help address these concerns, but progress should be demonstrated through verifiable action.
Second, Cambodia could benefit from diversifying its source markets. Vietnam and China remain major contributors to international arrivals, yet both recorded declines of more than 27% in the reported period. Developing demand across additional markets could reduce exposure to downturns concentrated in a small number of countries. Such diversification would require market-specific research and targeted promotion.
Third, domestic tourism represents an important source of resilience. The 46% increase in reported domestic trips suggests opportunities for provincial destinations and local tourism businesses. The commercial value of this growth will depend on visitor spending, trip duration and the extent to which demand reaches businesses across the tourism supply chain.
Fourth, service quality and product diversification need practical implementation. Promotional campaigns can attract attention, but destinations also need accessible transport, reliable services, clear visitor information and experiences that meet travellers’ expectations. Cooperation between public authorities and businesses can help align these elements.
Finally, recovery should be measured through a broader set of indicators. International arrivals remain important, but policymakers and businesses would also benefit from data on visitor spending, hotel occupancy, domestic tourism revenue, source-market performance and transport connectivity.
Cambodia’s immediate challenge is to convert promotional efforts and domestic demand into a more stable tourism economy. The latest figures show the scale of the international downturn, but they also indicate that domestic travel remains an important part of the sector’s potential recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many international tourists visited Cambodia during the first nine months of 2026?
Cambodia recorded 2,464,033 international arrivals from January to September 2026, down 43.7% from the same period in 2025.
2. Why have international tourist arrivals declined?
Tourism Minister Huot Hak cited negative publicity surrounding online scam networks, Cambodia–Thailand border tensions and conflicts in the Middle East that have contributed to higher fuel prices and weaker global travel sentiment.
3. Which countries were Cambodia’s largest source markets?
Vietnam and China were the leading source markets in the reported figures, with 651,486 and 643,314 arrivals, respectively. The United States recorded 140,276 arrivals.
4. How is domestic tourism performing?
Domestic tourism recorded 27.2 million trips during January–September 2026, an increase of 46% compared with the same period in 2025.
5. What measures has the Tourism Minister called for?
Huot Hak has urged stronger cooperation between government agencies and private businesses, increased promotional activity, diversification of tourism products and improvements in service quality.
6. What proportion of tourist arrivals and departures involved air travel?
The Ministry of Tourism report stated that air travel accounted for 62.3% of tourist arrivals and departures during the reported period. The supplied material does not provide a separate year-on-year change for air travel.
7. How much tourism revenue did Cambodia generate in 2025?
Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million international tourists in 2025 and generated approximately US$3.87 billion in gross tourism revenue, according to the supplied report.
8. Can domestic tourism offset the decline in international visitors?
Domestic tourism growth can support local businesses, but the available figures do not establish whether it has offset the decline in international tourism revenue. Assessing that would require comparable spending and revenue data.
Sources and Further Reading
Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia: Identified in the supplied reports as the source of international-arrival and domestic-tourism figures.
Xinhua: Referenced in the supplied report for comments by Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science.