A combination of global economic turmoil, higher fuel costs and what the Ministry of Tourism described as "domestic challenges" has weighed heavily on Cambodia's tourism sector. Between January and August 2026, only slightly more than two million international travellers arrived in the Kingdom, roughly half the figure seen in the same stretch of the previous year.

Ministry figures published on September 23 show that Cambodia received 2,252,698 foreign visitors during the first eight months of 2026. That marks a 44.4% drop from the 4.05 million arrivals logged over the same period a year earlier.

Where the Visitors Came From

The largest source markets all recorded declines. China accounted for 588,051 arrivals, down 25.1%, while Vietnam sent 585,711 travellers, a fall of 27.6%. Visitors from the United States totalled 129,876, a 7.3% decrease. France contributed 79,946 arrivals, down 15.5%, followed by the United Kingdom with 77,913, down 14.2%, and Indonesia with 65,487, a 35.9% drop.

Pressure on the Tourism Workforce

Khiev Thy, who heads the Angkor Tourist Guides Association, said the sharp fall in arrivals has hit workers hard. He noted that many guides who found employment for close to 20 days a month last year now struggle to secure even four or five days of work in a given month.

"The drop in international visitors is putting serious strain on the local tourism industry, especially on tour guides, drivers and small vendors who rely entirely on money from foreign travellers," he said.

Push to Draw Back Chinese Travellers

In a bid to lure more visitors from China, the government rolled out a visa waiver covering all holders of Chinese passports, whether they arrive directly from China or travel via another country. Under the scheme, which runs for four months from June 15 to October 15, 2026, eligible Chinese nationals may stay for up to 14 days and enter multiple times.

Angkor Park and the Wider Economy

According to Angkor Enterprise, 474,993 tickets to the Angkor Archaeological Park were sold in the first eight months of the year, a 29.07% decline compared with the same period in 2025. Revenue from ticket sales came to $22.54 million, down 27.43%.

The slowdown has also shaped the broader economic outlook. In a report also issued on September 23, the Asian Development Bank trimmed its 2026 growth forecast for Cambodia to 3.9%, below the 4.1% it had projected in July, citing the tourism sector's weaker-than-anticipated performance as the primary factor.