Cambodia recorded a 43.7 percent decrease in international tourist arrivals during the first nine months of 2026, with 2.46 million visitors compared to 4.37 million over the same period in 2025, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia on October 27, 2026.
Decline in Key Source Markets
Vietnam, China, and the United States remained Cambodia’s primary inbound tourism markets from January through September 2026. Vietnamese tourist arrivals decreased by 28 percent to 651,486 visitors. Chinese tourists fell 27.6 percent to 643,314, while arrivals from the United States declined 5.6 percent to 140,276.
Causes for Tourism Downturn
Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak attributed the sharp
decline to multiple factors including negative publicity concerning online scam networks, tensions at the Cambodia-Thailand border, and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East. These issues have led to higher fuel prices and reduced enthusiasm for international travel.
Tourism’s Economic Role and Historical Context
Tourism remains a core economic sector for Cambodia alongside agriculture, construction, real estate, and manufacturing exports such as garments, footwear, and travel goods. Cambodia hosted 5.57 million international tourists in 2025, generating around 3.87 billion U.S. dollars in gross revenue.
Outlook and Official Commentary
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, expressed confidence in future recovery. He
said, “Cambodia’s firm commitment to tackling online scams will restore its international reputation and rebuild trust among global travelers. By lowering travel barriers and actively addressing safety concerns, Cambodia will certainly win back both first-time and returning global travelers.”
