Phnom Penh:International tourist arrivals to Cambodia saw a significant decline of 43.7 percent year-on-year, reaching only 2.46 million in the first nine months of 2026, compared to 4.37 million during the same period last year, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday.

According to NAMPA, the report identifies Vietnam, China, and the United States as the primary inbound tourism markets for Cambodia from January to September. The number of Vietnamese visitors decreased by 28 percent to 651,486, while Chinese travelers fell by 27.6 percent to 643,314. U.S. arrivals experienced a smaller drop, declining 5.6 percent to 140,276.

Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak attributed the decline to severe regional and global challenges. He pointed out that negative publicity regarding online scam networks, tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border, and conflicts in the Middle East affecting fuel prices and travel enthusiasm were major contributors to the downward trend.

Tourism, a key pillar of Cambodia's economy alongside agriculture, construction, real estate, and manufacturing exports, has been significantly impacted. This decline contrasts sharply with the year 2025, when Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million international tourists and generated about 3.87 billion U.S. dollars in gross revenue.

Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, remains optimistic about the future of Cambodia's tourism industry. He believes that the country's commitment to addressing online scams will help restore its international reputation and regain the trust of global travelers. By reducing travel barriers and focusing on safety concerns, Cambodia aims to attract both new and returning tourists.