Cambodia recorded 18.69 million domestic trips in the first nine months of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 53 percent from 12.15 million, according to data by the Ministry of Tourism.
Phnom Penh capital received 7.46 million domestic trips and Siem Reap Angkor recorded 2.66 million, stated the report.
Coastal zones of four provinces, including Preah Sihanouk, Kep, Kampot and Koh Kong recorded 6.63 million domestic trips, while the rest went to the ecotourism zone and others.
Cambodia’s domestic tourism sector is experiencing a significant surge, with 18 million domestic tourist trips between January and September of this year.
Domestic trips are journeys that residents take to explore destinations within their own borders.
These trips can be for leisure or business and are important for a country’s economy, helping to generate revenue, employment, and cultural appreciation among its citizens.
Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), lauded the momentum.
Speaking with Khmer Times, Sivlin said, “With more creative tourism products and tourism sites established, coupled with better road connections, more and more Cambodians prefer spending holidays at attractive tourism sites and provinces, especially during the long holiday period.”
The surge of domestic tourists also offered opportunities for local businesses, contributing to economic development in the communities, she added.
However, the ministry did not disclose the domestic tourists’ expenditure in the report.
Industry experts have cited a figure for daily expenditure in the context of major national holidays like the Water Festival, which often involves travel between provinces. This figure is used to estimate the total economic impact and typically includes accommodation, food, local transport, and small purchases/entertainment.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has called on relevant ministries, institutions, local authorities, and the private sector to organise more events aimed at attracting tourists to tourism landscape destinations, especially during the Green Season.
To ensure the sector’s long-term benefits, the Premier called for promotion of green investment in tourism through 4Ps (Public-Private-People Partnerships), in line with the principle of “Conservation for Development, Development for Conservation.”
Running from April to October, the Green Season is being leveraged by the Ministry of Tourism through partnerships with government institutions, sub-national authorities, and private stakeholders to develop engaging tourism products and culturally rich events.
Between January and September, Cambodian outbound tourists recorded 1.08 million, a year-on-year decrease of 20.7 percent from 1.36 million in the same period last year.
