Cambodia begins visa-free trial for Chinese tourists in bid to revive travel

Cambodia launched a four-month visa-free trial for Chinese citizens on Monday, aiming to attract at least 600,000 visitors during the pilot program as it seeks to revive one of its most important tourism markets.

The visa waiver, which runs from June 15 to Oct 15, allows Chinese nationals to enter Cambodia without a visa for stays of up to 14 days, with multiple entries permitted during the trial period, according to Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak said authorities hope the program will push Chinese visitor numbers above 1.2 million this year.

"Cambodia is fully prepared to deliver warm hospitality, superior service, and memorable experiences across accommodation, dining and retail sectors," he said.

China was Cambodia's largest source of foreign tourists in the first four months of 2026, with 331,199 arrivals recorded, according to Cambodian tourism ministry data.

The initiative reflects Cambodia's push to restore Chinese visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels. The country welcomed around 1.2 million Chinese tourists in 2025, up from roughly 850,000 in 2024, but still well below the record 2.36 million Chinese visitor arrivals recorded in 2019.