Chinese tourists to Cambodia exceed 1 mln in 7 months, up 72.6 pct

Almost 1.1 million Chinese tourists had visited Cambodia in the first seven months of 2018, up 72.6 percent over the same period last year, said Cambodian Tourism Ministry's latest report released Monday.

Chinese holidaymakers accounted for 31.7 percent of the international tourists to the kingdom during the January-July period this year, the report said, adding that China topped the chart among the top 10 international arrivals to the country.

According to the report, the Southeast Asian country welcomed a total of 3.45 million international tourists during the first seven months of this year, up 11 percent over the same period last year.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon has projected that Cambodia would attract at least 1.7 million Chinese tourists in 2018 and up to 2.5 million in 2020.

Cambodia is famous for three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor archeological park in northwestern Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear temple in northwestern Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk archeological site in central Kampong Thom province.

Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep.

Last year, Cambodia got 5.6 million foreign tourists including 1.21 million Chinese, earning gross revenue of $3.6 billion.