International tourist arrivals to Cambodia dropped by 43.7 percent year-on-year to 2.46 million from January to September 2026, according to statistics released by Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism on October 27, 2026. This marks a significant decrease compared to 4.37 million international tourists recorded during the same period in 2025.
Tourist Arrivals by Country
Among Cambodia’s top inbound markets, arrivals from Vietnam declined 28 percent to 651,486 visitors. Chinese tourist numbers fell 27.6 percent to 643,314, while arrivals from the United States dropped 5.6 percent to 140,276 during the first nine months of 2026, the report showed.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak attributed the
downturn to several challenges affecting tourism. Negative publicity around online scam networks has damaged Cambodia’s international reputation. Additionally, friction along the Cambodia-Thailand border has hindered cross-border travel. Conflicts in the Middle East have contributed to higher fuel prices, further dampening global travel demand.
Official Comments and Outlook
Huot Hak noted that these regional and global headwinds broadly drove the decline in tourist arrivals. Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, expressed confidence in Cambodia’s future tourism recovery. He said, “Cambodia’s firm commitment to tackling online scams will restore its international reputation and rebuild trust
among global travelers.” He added, “By lowering travel barriers and actively addressing safety concerns, Cambodia will certainly win back both first-time and returning global travelers.”
Tourism remains a key pillar of Cambodia’s economy alongside agriculture, construction, real estate, and manufacturing exports, including garments, footwear, and travel goods. In 2025, Cambodia welcomed a total of 5.57 million international tourists and generated approximately 3.87 billion U.S. dollars in tourism revenue.
