Tourism in Cambodia

Cambodia is fortunate to inherit great historical and cultural heritages especially Angkor Wat Temple and a beautiful natural environment along the mountain ranges, forests, lakes, seashore and offshore islands. Tourism continues to blossom contributing to the development of the service sector. Tourism sector in Cambodia is so attractive for investment thanks to the diversity of historical and cultural heritages, natural cultural parks such as forests, lakes, seashores and beautiful and attractive landscapes. Tourist arrivals have increased from 170,000 in 1993 to more than 2 millions in 2008. Indeed, the great potential of tourism sector will play the key role in linking production and services in hotel and hospitality sector with demand for other goods. One the most attractive unspoilt Tourism markets in the Region :

Cambodia has focused on the development of tourism in the following sites :

• Culture: Angkor Complex of Temples
  • Located at a few kilometres northwest of Siem Reap, there are about 40 accessible sites with the temples having a legacy extending over many centuries (circa AD800-1400)
  • The Angkor complexes are on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites
  • Preservation and restoration work is being coordinated by an international coordinating committee co-chaired by France and Japan, with the Cambodian counterpart being the Aspara Authority
• Coastal:
  • Beaches and islands in Sihanoukville and Kampot provinces
  • Development of Sihanoukville including the construction of the country's third international airport
• Business and Government: Phnom Penh and surrounding areas
• Eco-tourism in the North East:
  • Kratie, Mondulkiri, Rotanakiri and Steung Treng
• The growth in tourism has been robust and is a strong contributor to the services sector
  • GDP of the services sectors grew at an average of 8.6% over the 2000-2005 period
• The number of tourists increased by 35% in 2005 relative to the year before
  • Tourists from the Republic of Korea ranked first in terms of tourist arrivals, more than 50% of total tourist arrivals to Cambodia are from the Asian and Pacific countries, and about a quarter of the tourist arrivals are from the Europe
  • Good balance between regional short-haul tourism (tourists who come more frequently but for shorter periods) and long-haul tourism (tourists who come less frequently for longer periods)