THE INFLUX OF FOREIGN TOURISTS TO CAMBODIA INCREASED 12.39%

The influx of visitors to Cambodia increased 12.39% for the first half of 2010, compared to the same period last year, according to a report released on August 09, 2010 by the Ministry of Tourism.

H.E Thong Khon, Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, said the government’s commitments to carry out a theme “Clean City, Clean Resort, and Good Services” contributed to the attraction of tourists to visit Cambodia, located in the Southeast Asian region. He added the number of Vietnamese tourists is remarkable high, followed by South Korea and China.

According to tourism official at the ministry’s Department of Statistics, said that the total number of foreign tourists who arrived in Cambodia, was 1,221,156 million for the first six months of 2010, up from 1,086,568 million for the same period of last year. Amongst those, there were 215,496 tourists from Vietnam and 144,077 tourists from South Korea, more than 84,335 tourists from China.

Based on the report, for the first six months of 2010, more than one million tourists traveled by flight to Cambodia, up from 632,373 tourists, 14% increases, in comparison with the same period. 284,991 pass angers flew to Phnom Penh International Airport, and 347,382 tourists to Siem Reap International Airport. 483,247 tourists traveled by bus and 39,447 tourists by boats.

H.E Thong Khon mentioned that the majority of foreign tourist’s visiting Cambodia for the first 6 months came from 10 Countries:

Countries	Tourists	Decreased	Increased
1. Vietnam	215,496		45.88%
2. Korea	144,077		35.48%
3. China	84335		35.70%
4. Japan	75,039		6.92%
5. America	76,096	5.43%
6. England	53,934	4.43%
7. France	51,946	0.40%
8. Taiwan	45,656		31.21%
9. Australia	38,118		17.22%
10. Thailand	43,808	13.91%

Mr. Ang Kim Ieng, president of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said that even though Asian tourists coming to Cambodia, especially from Vietnam that stands on the top of the list and who spend three days in average to visit Cambodia, spend less money than European tourists, it is a positive sign for the tourism growth in Cambodia.