Synopsis: Reconnecting flights and opening new air routes have contributed significantly to the growth of air passengers and foreign tourists to Cambodia.
Foreign tourist arrivals in Cambodia’s three international airports soared to 1.21 million in the first five months, a 23 percent increase over the 986,435 visitors recorded during the same period in 2024, a Ministry of Tourism report showed yesterday.
According to the report, 886,244 foreign tourists arrived in the Kingdom via the Phnom Penh International Airport, an increase of 27 percent from the same period last year.
The Siem Reap International Airport and the Sihanoukville International Airport handled 308,818 and 21,190 foreign tourists, with a growth of 10 percent and 250 percent, respectively.
Reconnecting flights and opening new air routes have remarkably contributed to the growth of air passengers and foreign tourists to Cambodia, said Secretary of State and Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Tourism Hun Dany.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Dany said, “Connection of direct flights and better airport facilities are the reasons for tourists’ air travel to Cambodia. This factor, coupled with Cambodia’s tourism attractions, made more tourists visit the country.”
The ministry has stated that Cambodia is expected to attract 7.5 million international tourists in 2025.
Figures from the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation showed that between January and May of this year, the three international airports have handled a total of 3.04 million air passengers, a year-on-year rise of 18 percent.
The Techo International Airport, which is scheduled to open in September 2025, would help attract more international airlines and passengers to Cambodia, SSCA’s Secretary of State and Spokesman Sinn Chanserey Vutha said.
“Cambodia now has international airports with the capability of handling the landing of almost all kinds of aircraft, so they are able to attract more international long-haul airlines to operate direct flights to Cambodia,” he said.
The three international airports currently connect international flights to 12 countries with a total of 34 destinations or capitals/cities in the region and the world, by 31 national and international airlines.
The Draft National Policy on Air Transport 2025-2035, a strategic plan aimed at significantly bolstering Cambodia’s air transport sector, designed to propel Cambodia towards achieving 25 million air passengers and 205,000 tonnes of air cargo transport.
