Cambodia Travel News

As the trend  of tourists arrival in Cambodia exceeds 30 percent a year, Cambodian Tourism Minister Veng Sereyvuth forecasts 1.7 million tourists arrival by the year 2005.

This figure will assist to create jobs for at least 160,000 Cambodians.

By the year 2003, Cambodia forecasts to attain 7-digits figure of tourists arrival to top one million.

The tourism boom began after the end of civil war in 1998 when the strongman Hun Sen succeeded in taking the power. Not all parts of Cambodia enjoyed this boom, but rather concentrate in Siem Reap which housed the well-known Angkor Wat and the other Khmer temples. 

The income from tourism in the year 2000 reaches 228 million U.S. dollars which is over 220 percent increase as compared to the income in 1995. 

The open-sky policy of direct flights to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) helped to boost the number of tourists arrival significantly. There are direct flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and more will be allowed.

Most travelers are from USA, France, Great Britain, Japan, China, Singapore and other European countries.

Below are the statistics by Continents as compared to the year 1999:

The absolute "Top 3" countries:

Siem Reap Airport saw an increase in arrivals of 205% for 1999-2000. 

To achieve its target of 1.7 million figure by 2005, Cambodia needs to develop more touristy places in addition to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. This will help to attract more tourists as well as repeated travelers.