Tourism in Cambodia is one of the most important sectors in the country's economy. In 2013, tourism arrivals increased by 17.5 percent year on year, with business travelers increasing 47 percent. [2]
Tourism in Cambodia is one of the most important sectors in the country's economy. In 2013, tourism arrivals increased by 17.5 percent year on year, with business travelers increasing 47 percent. [2]
| Year | Tourism arrivals | Change | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,453,231 |  139.5% | [3] |
| 2022 | 2,276,626 | 1058.6% | [4] |
| 2021 | 196,495 |  85.0% | [5] |
| 2020 | 1,306,143 | 80.2% | [6] |
| 2019 | 6,610,592 | 6.6% | [7] |
| 2018 | 6,201,077 | 10.7% | [8] |
| 2017 | 5,602,157 | 11.7% | [9] |
| 2016 | 5,011,712 | 4.95% | [10] |
| 2015 | 4,775,231 | 6.1% | [11] |
| 2014 | 4,502,775 | 7.0% | [12] |
| 2013 | 4,210,165 | 17.5% | [13] |
| 2012 | 3,584,307 | 24.4% | [14] |
| 2011 | 2,881,862 | 14.9% | [15] |
| 2010 | 2,508,289 | 16.0% | [16] |
| 2009 | 2,161,577 | 1.7% | [17] |
| 2008 | 2,125,465 | 1.5% | [18] |
| 2007 | 2,015,128 | 18.5% | [19] |
| 2006 | 1,700,041 | 19.6% | [20] |
| 2005 | 1,421,615 | 34.7% | [21] |
| 2004 | 1,055,202 | 50.5% | [22] |
Ranking of international visitor arrivals [23]
| Rank | Country or territory | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | ASEAN | 2,067,504 | 2,161,254 | 2,121,220 | 2,097,758 | 1,918,130 | 1,831,507 | 1,514,267 | 1,101,111 |
| 1 |  China | 2,024,443 | 1,210,782 | 830,003 | 694,712 | 560,335 | 463,123 | 333,894 | 247,197 |
| 2 |  Vietnam * | 800,128 | 835,355 | 959,663 | 987,792 | 905,801 | 854,104 | 763,136 | 614,090 |
| 3 |  Laos * | 426,180 | 502,219 | 369,335 | 405,359 | 460,191 | 414,531 | 254,022 | 128,525 |
| 4 |  Thailand * | 382,317 | 394,934 | 398,081 | 349,908 | 279,457 | 221,259 | 201,422 | 116,758 |
| 5 |  South Korea | 301,770 | 345,081 | 357,194 | 395,259 | 424,424 | 435,009 | 411,491 | 342,810 |
| 6 |  United States | 250,813 | 256,544 | 238,658 | 217,510 | 191,366 | 184,964 | 173,076 | 153,953 |
| 7 |  Japan | 210,471 | 203,373 | 191,577 | 193,330 | 215,788 | 206,932 | 179,327 | 161,804 |
| 8 |  Malaysia * | 201,116 | 179,316 | 152,843 | 149,389 | 144,437 | 130,704 | 116,764 | 102,929 |
| 9 |  France | 170,844 | 166,356 | 150,294 | 145,724 | 141,052 | 131,486 | 121,175 | 117,408 |
| 10 |  United Kingdom | 162,395 | 171,162 | 159,489 | 154,265 | 133,306 | 123,919 | 110,182 | 104,052 |
| 11 |  Taiwan | 134,430 | 121,023 | 104,765 | 109,727 | 97,528 | 96,992 | 92,811 | 98,363 |
| 12 |  Australia | 127,430 | 143,852 | 146,806 | 134,748 | 134,167 | 132,028 | 117,729 | 105,010 |
| 13 |  Germany | 98,976 | 118,265 | 108,784 | 94,040 | 84,143 | 81,565 | 72,537 | 63,398 |
| 14 |  Philippines * | 98,499 | 108,032 | 84,677 | 93,475 | 118,999 | 97,487 | 70,718 | |
| 15 |  Singapore * | 86,251 | 81,063 | 70,556 | 67,669 | 65,855 | 57,808 | 53,184 | 47,594 |
| 16 |  India | 65,882 | 59,571 | 46,131 | 36,671 | 28,529 | 23,610 | 18,999 | 15,240 |
| 17 |  Russia | 64,726 | 65,275 | 53,164 | 55,500 | 108,601 | 131,675 | 99,750 | 67,747 |
| 18 |  Canada | 61,551 | 69,077 | 60,715 | 56,834 | 52,264 | 50,867 | 47,829 | 42,462 |
* Country in ASEAN
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Whilst there are approximately over half a million orphans in the country, only 1% of Cambodian orphans live in orphanages with most parentless children cared for by their extended family or community. [24] Yet, these institutions receive a huge amount of support both in donations and volunteer applications. According to UNICEF, the largest financial support comes from Australia, particularly from faith-based organisations, with 51% of churchgoers and over 3,000 local churches supporting care institutions both in Cambodia and throughout Southeast Asia. [25]
This support is ensured thanks to a booming orphanage tourism industry which has become a major problem across the country. An increasing number of travel agencies, charities, universities and high schools advertise placements to Cambodian orphanages. [26] As visitor numbers grow, there has been an explosion in the number of orphanages - between 2005 and 2015, there was a 60% increase, with half concentrated in the tourist destinations and two largest cities of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. [27] Facility owners have recognized an opportunity to profit significantly from an increased pool of foreign donors and volunteers, with around half being completely unlicensed or unregulated. [28]
The industry is also fuelled by poverty with poor families latching on to the false hope of a better education for their children within these institutions. According to the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation: “There is a general idea amongst ordinary people that ‘our children can lead a good life in the RCIs (residential care institutions)’.’’. Due to a lack of strong state assistance in education and social services for children, poor families are tempted to give up their children to RCI’s with the hope that they will be more adequately provided for. [29]
Many facilities are poorly run, incentivized by the prospect of lucrative profits. Research has shown that since the neediest institutions are likely to receive the most money from the altruistic donors, some are kept deliberately in bad conditions despite substantial donations. Sometimes, children are also paraded through the streets, taught to beg, sell goods, and perform to tourists for money. In this way, they become an exploited commodity, lining the pockets of institution owners. [30] [31]
Even in legitimate, well-run orphanages, such facilities can still be damaging; institutionalised children are more likely to experience developmental delays, behavioural issues, poor physical health and reduced intellectual capability compared to those living at home with parents or extended carers. [32] Volunteers that come to these orphanages are usually unskilled and only stay for a short while. Not only does this create a child safeguarding risk, but it can also cause long-term emotional stress for already vulnerable children as they are encouraged to form close attachments with strangers only to be abandoned repeatedly. [33]
With the rise of young generation Cambodian content creators, they play an important role in promoting the country's tourism sector. During an interview with Kiripost, Thay Chheangmeng, Managing Director at Kampucheers, suggested that the government should create an agency similar to that of Thailand, and the that agency is under Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)Tourism Authority of Thailand. [34]
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, industrial, and cultural centre. Before Phnom Penh became capital city, Oudong was the capital of the country.
Angkor, also known as Yasodharapura, was the capital city of the Khmer Empire, located in present-day Cambodia. The city and empire flourished from approximately the 9th to the 15th centuries. The city houses the Angkor Wat, one of Cambodia's most popular tourist attractions.
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia. It borders Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand on the southwest. It spans an area of 181,035 square kilometres, and has a population of about 17 million. Its capital and most populous city is Phnom Penh.
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Siem Reap, officially Siemreap, is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. It borders the provinces of Oddar Meanchey to the north, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom to the east, Battambang to the south, and Banteay Meanchey to the west. Its capital and largest city is Siem Reap.
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The 2022 Hun Sen Cup was the 16th season of the Hun Sen Cup, the premier knockout tournament for association football clubs in Cambodia involving Cambodian Premier League, Cambodian League 2 and provincial football clubs organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC). The competition was split into 2 stages, the provincial stage which started on 8 February 2022 and the national stage with the top four teams from provincial stage entering the play-off of national stage, competing with the teams from Cambodian League 2.
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