Cambodia Targets 5.8 Million Visitors in 2026, Banks on Chinese Recovery and New Air Links
Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism aims for up to 5.8 million international visitors this year, banking on increased Chinese arrivals and new air routes despite ongoing geopolitical and cost challenges impacting travel.
Cambodia Sets Ambitious 2026 Visitor Target
Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has set a target of attracting between 5.6 and 5.8 million international visitors for 2026. This projection relies significantly on a resurgence of arrivals from China, a market that has historically been a strong source, alongside the expansion of air connectivity.
In 2025, the MoT reported that Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million international visitors, marking a 16.9 per cent decrease compared to the previous year. Of this total, Chinese visitors accounted for over 1.2 million, a notable reduction from approximately 2.3 million in 2019, when they constituted one-third of all international arrivals.
Cambodia’s Tourism Minister, Huot Hak, confirmed the country's readiness to welcome back Chinese tourists and investors. To support this objective, Cambodia launched a pilot scheme on June 15, 2026, providing Chinese tourists with multiple 14-day visa-free stays, an initiative set to run until October 15, 2026.
Sinan Thourn, chairman of IMCT Co and PATA Cambodia chapter, suggested that if this scheme proves successful, it could be extended to travellers from Europe and the United States.
Navigating Geopolitical and Economic Headwinds
The 2026 visitor target represents a downward revision from an earlier projection of seven million, a change influenced by a slowdown in tourism during the second half of 2025. This deceleration was partly attributed to a border conflict with Thailand during that period.
More recently, the tourism sector has faced pressures from the Middle East conflict and rising global fuel prices. These factors have led to increased operational costs across various service areas, including accommodation, food and beverage, tours, and transport. Cambodia was particularly affected by the sudden halt of flights by Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad.
These carriers traditionally transported a substantial portion of the country’s Western markets. According to Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Gulf hubs previously contributed approximately 12,960 weekly travellers to Cambodia.
Sinan Thourn emphasised that these flight disruptions, combined with the fuel cost increases, have significantly impacted travel expenses and the planning of itineraries.
Shifting Source Markets and Enhanced Connectivity
Despite the prevailing challenges, Sinan Thourn anticipates a robust recovery and growth from long-haul and emerging markets, specifically identifying Europe, China, India, and South Asia. The new Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh is expected to strengthen Cambodia’s air connectivity, drawing in new routes.
Recent additions include a direct link to Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines' direct flight to Istanbul, both launched in December. Concurrently, Cambodia’s tourism sector is observing notable shifts in its traditional source markets.
Arrivals from Thailand, which was the leading source market in 2024, saw a significant decline of 52.4 per cent to 1.02 million visitors in 2025. South Korean arrivals also experienced a substantial drop due to travel advisories concerning scam centres.
While Vietnam maintained its position as Cambodia’s top source market in 2025 with 1.22 million visitors, arrivals from Vietnam have also softened, as noted by Thourn.
Focus on Quality and Future Direction
Catherine Germier-Hamel, founder and CEO of Millennium Destinations, suggests that a growing emphasis on “quality over quantity” will define Cambodia’s tourism landscape in 2026. She highlighted an increasing focus on service excellence, sustainability, and visitor safety, alongside Cambodia’s improved management of safety and reputation issues.
The country is also actively diversifying its market segments, products, activities, and destinations. Substantial investments in new and upgraded airport and transport infrastructure are expected to yield benefits, although Germier-Hamel indicates these advantages will materialise unevenly.
She projects that higher-quality tourism products will first appear in established destinations before progressively expanding into selected emerging areas that align with national tourism strategies.
Sinan Thourn describes his outlook for 2026 as “cautiously optimistic,” foreseeing a year of rebalancing and diversification, driven by new airport infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, and a stronger focus on quality tourism.
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