Foreign Tourist Arrivals Fall 46% in First Seven Months of 2026

By Kampuchea Daily · 22 September 2026 · 2 views1 share

Cambodia received about 1.99 million international visitors between January and July 2026, a fall of 46% from the same period last year, according to Ministry of Tourism figures reported by Khmer Times.

China, Vietnam and the United States were the three largest source markets over the seven months.

A decline that deepened through the year

The slump was visible from the start of the year. The country welcomed 1.01 million international tourists in the first quarter, down about 44.8% year on year (Khmer Times). By the end of May, the drop had widened to 47.8% (Khmer Times). The ministry publishes detailed monthly breakdowns in its tourism statistics reports.

What is driving the drop

The ministry attributed the fall to several overlapping pressures:

geopolitical tensions, including the unresolved border dispute with Thailand;
higher travel costs;
weaker consumer spending in source markets;
concern over online scam operations, which has damaged the country's international image.

Three scenarios for the full year

The ministry has set out three projections for 2026:

If current crises persist: 4.6 to 4.8 million foreign visitors.
If conditions improve but the Thai border dispute remains unresolved: 5.3 to 5.5 million.
If existing challenges are fully resolved: 6.1 to 6.3 million.

The fourth quarter, which covers the cooler high season, will largely decide which scenario plays out. For operators in Siem Reap, home to the Angkor temple complex, and along the coast, the coming months will test whether the recovery seen after the pandemic can be regained. The Tourism in Cambodia overview has longer-run context on arrivals and key destinations.

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