Cambodia tourism falls 44% as Angkor Wat revenue declines

Cambodia’s tourism industry has experienced a significant downturn, with international visitor numbers falling by 44.4% in the first eight months of 2026. According to data from the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, the country received 2,252,698 international visitors between January and August, compared to 4.05 million during the same period the previous year.

Key visitor demographics include 588,051 travelers from China and 585,711 from Vietnam. Other notable groups include visitors from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia.

The decline has heavily impacted the Angkor archaeological site. Angkor Enterprise reported that ticket sales dropped by 29.07%, with revenue falling 27.43% to $22.54 million. This downturn is creating severe pressure on the local workforce, including tour guides, drivers, and small-scale vendors.

Factors contributing to the slump include the global economic crisis, rising fuel prices, and domestic challenges. Consequently, the Asian Development Bank has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast for Cambodia from 4.1% to 3.9%.