Cambodia will attract significant numbers of Chinese tourists this year, said the Cambodia-China Friendship Association (CCFA) on Friday.
The assurance comes in the wake of the promotional efforts launched by the CCFA and the Ministry of Tourism’s strategic plan to attract Chinese tourists.
Speaking to a local media outlet, President of CCFA Ek Sam Ol said Cambodia is expected to witness a significant increase in Chinese tourists in 2025.
He said that to attract more Chinese visitors to Cambodia, the country’s leaders must ensure peace, as well as political and economic stability.
“Regarding Chinese tourists, as far as I know, there will be an increase in 2025 because in 2024 the influence of advertising from the tourism sector significantly impacted the United States and Europe. But this year, I am confident that many more Chinese tourists will visit Cambodia as a result of the country’s promotional efforts,” Sam Ol said.
Hun Dany, spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), told Khmer Times on Tuesday that in 2024, Cambodia welcomed over 840,000 Chinese tourists, marking a 55 percent increase compared to 2023.
She said that due to the close cooperation between Cambodia and China, particularly with the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, the ministry expects the number of Chinese tourists to further increase, reaching around 1.1 million by 2025.
“The MoT has also introduced a strategic plan to attract Chinese tourists by promoting Cambodian tourism to the Chinese market, organising joint tourism events, and fostering people-to-people cultural exchanges,” Dany said.
She went on to add that recently, Minister of Tourism Huot Hak assigned the ministry’s leadership to coordinate, lead, and promote the Chinese tourist market across all major Chinese destinations to attract more tourists to Cambodia.
Dany underlined, “Prime Minister Hun Manet pays high attention to issues of security, safety, and political stability, aiming to ensure that all international tourists feel comfortable when visiting Cambodia. This is in line with the vision of maintaining Cambodia’s reputation as a ‘safe, warm, clean, and green tourist destination’.”
On Monday afternoon, Minister Hak, Vong Phanat, Chairman of the Provincial Council, and Mang Sinet, Governor of Preah Sihanouk province, inaugurated a cultural and trade tourism exhibition under the theme ‘Tourism provides opportunities for all’.
The ceremony was also attended by Natthapong Sanguanchit, Governor of Trat Province, the Consul General of Vietnam in Preah Sihanouk, the Director of the Chinese Consular Office in Preah Sihanouk, as well as representatives from the provincial administrations of Koh Kong, Kampot, and Kep.
The event will run for five days, from January 27-31, at Techo Square (Poyatamoung), Preah Sihanouk City, Preah Sihanouk province.
Addressing the event, Hak said that Cambodia’s tourism sector is a priority area which former Prime Minister Hun Sen has referred to as ‘green gold’ for its significant contribution to social and economic development, improving people’s livelihoods, and supporting the conservation of natural resources and rich cultural heritage. This has enabled Cambodia to maintain peace, political stability, and development across all sectors.
“The tourism sector is considered a key economic driver, contributing approximately 3 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP),” Hak said.
“According to forecasts, by 2025 Cambodia’s coastal areas are expected to welcome 800,000 international tourists and approximately 8 million domestic tourists. Specifically, Preah Sihanouk province is projected to attract around 450,000 international tourists and approximately 4 million domestic tourists.”
Preah Sihanouk Provincial governor Sinet also stated that the current event aims to increase the attraction of tourists to visit and stay longer in Preah Sihanouk province, promote tourism products and tourism potential, highlight and promote Cambodian cultural values, and strengthen international cooperation to further develop the tourism and trade sectors.
