Cambodia tourism visits plunge nearly 48% in first half of 2026

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reported that in the first six months of 2026 the country received 1.75 million international visitors, a 47.9% decline from the same period in 2025. The three main source markets – the People’s Republic of China (452,200 visitors), the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (447,700 visitors) and the United States (104,640 visitors) – fell by roughly 23%, 28% and 11% respectively.

Officials, including Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China‑ASEAN Research Centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, attributed the drop to a regional economic slowdown, concerns over online scams and border disputes with Thailand, as well as flight disruptions and higher fuel prices caused by the Middle‑East conflict. Domestic tourism remained robust, with over 20.3 million local trips recorded in the first five months, a 54.2% increase year‑on‑year.

To revive the Chinese market, Cambodia is trialling a visa‑free scheme for leading tour operators based in Shanghai. The government has also intensified a crackdown on online fraud, shutting down 737 fraudulent sites, expelling more than 21,100 foreign nationals from 38 nationalities, and referring 268 cases to court under a new anti‑fraud law. In 2025, Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million international tourists, generating US$3.87 billion in revenue.