Cambodia recorded 2.25 million international tourist arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, down 44.4% year-on-year to 2.25 million, with China and Vietnam both shrinking sharply.
Cambodia tourist arrivals fell 44.4% year-on-year to 2.25 million in the first eight months of 2026, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s August statistics report. China contributed 588,051 visitors, down 25.1%, while Vietnam sent 585,711, down 27.6%. August arrivals of 254,877 fell 24.7% year-on-year and remained 50.9% below the same month in 2019.
- Cambodia’s Tourist Arrivals Fall 44.4%
- The Source Market Breakdown
- Sihanouk Airport Posts the Biggest Gain
- The Visa-Free Pilot for Chinese Passports
Cambodia recorded 2.25 million international tourist arrivals in the first eight months of 2026. That is a 44.4% fall year-on-year against the 4.05 million recorded in the same period of 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s August statistics report.
The decline is broad based. China sent 588,051 visitors, down 25.1%, and Vietnam contributed 585,711, down 27.6%. The two source markets together accounted for just over half of the traffic lost in the period. Land arrivals fell harder still, dropping 62.9% to 784,088, while air arrivals declined 24.9% to 1.41 million.
Cambodia’s Tourist Arrivals Fall 44.4%
The Ministry of Tourism’s August statistics report confirms the first eight months of 2026 as Cambodia’s weakest tourism period in the comparison period. The 44.4% decline is steep enough to matter for the country’s broader recovery, which has been moving steadily but never reached pre-pandemic levels.
August’s 254,877 international arrivals fell 24.7% year-on-year, a more moderate decline than July’s 29.2%. The monthly recovery signal is encouraging, but the August tally still remained 50.9% below the same month in 2019. That comparison is the uncomfortable one, because it shows how far the country still has to travel before tourism returns to its former scale.
The source market picture is what drives the number. China remained the largest source, accounting for 26.1% of total arrivals, and Vietnam followed as a major contributor. Both markets fell into single-digit-to-low-double-digit territory, which leaves Cambodia with a narrower pool of visitors to draw on.
The Source Market Breakdown
China accounted for 588,051 arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, down 25.1% from the 784,436 recorded a year earlier. Vietnam sent 585,711 visitors, down 27.6%, and the two markets together represented just over half of the traffic lost across the period.
China’s 26.1% share of total arrivals is the number to watch. It is down from the 32.7% the market represented in 2025, so the loss in visitors came with a loss in market share. That combination is harder to reverse than a simple volume dip, because it means China is no longer the dominant source rather than merely sending fewer people.
Land arrivals fell 62.9% to 784,088, a sharper slide than the 24.9% decline in air arrivals. The gap between the two is meaningful. Land-based travel is more sensitive to border restrictions and regional travel conditions, and the disparity suggests the recovery will depend on restoring the border and regional flows first.
AGBrief has covered the regional tourism recovery across the last year.
Sihanouk Airport Posts the Biggest Gain
Sihanouk International Airport bucked the wider decline in air arrivals, recording 68,176 international tourist arrivals. That is up 85.9% from the 36,675 arrivals recorded a year earlier, on a base that was low enough to make the growth look dramatic.
The gain is real, and it reflects the government’s Sihanoukville tourism development plan rather than a one-off event. The airport has become the gateway for the province’s resort push, which targets international arrivals on a much larger scale in the medium term.
The contrast with the rest of the country is the point. The national figure fell 44.4% while the Sihanouk International Airport corridor grew sharply, which means the tourism recovery is concentrated in the southern province. The government’s Sihanoukville tourism development plan targets 2026-2030 as the framework for that expansion.
The Visa-Free Pilot for Chinese Passports
Cambodia introduced a visa-free pilot for Chinese passport holders from June 15 to October 15, 2026, allowing stays of up to 14 days per visit subject to completion of an electronic arrival card. The pilot is designed to offset the loss of Chinese visitors by removing the administrative friction that once slowed the group.
Chinese arrivals in August fell 30.2% to 68,051, which is the month-by-month figure that matters most for the pilot. The visa-free entry is running against a decline, so its success will be measured against the pace of that fall rather than the raw visitor count.
The pilot window closes on October 15, and the government’s plan for 2026-2030 assumes a sustained Chinese tourist base rather than a seasonal spike. Whether the visa-free entry converts the country’s large Chinese diaspora into repeat visitors will show in the numbers that follow the pilot’s expiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many international tourist arrivals did Cambodia record in the first eight months of 2026?
Cambodia recorded 2.25 million international tourist arrivals between January and August 2026, down 44.4% from the 4.05 million recorded in the first eight months of 2025. The figures come from the Ministry of Tourism’s August statistics report.
Which source markets drove the fall?
China sent 588,051 visitors, down 25.1%, while Vietnam contributed 585,711, down 27.6%. The two markets together accounted for more than half of the traffic lost in the period. China still accounted for 26.1% of total arrivals.
Why did August arrivals improve year-on-year?
August recorded 254,877 international arrivals, a 24.7% decline compared with 29.2% in July. The monthly fall narrowed, but the August figure still remained 50.9% below the same month in 2019.
What happened at Sihanouk International Airport?
Sihanouk International Airport recorded 68,176 international tourist arrivals, up 85.9% from the 36,675 arrivals a year earlier. The gain reflects the province’s tourism development plan, which assumes a much larger regional base than the national figure.
What is the visa-free pilot for Chinese passport holders?
Cambodia introduced a visa-free pilot for Chinese passport holders from June 15 to October 15, 2026, with stays of up to 14 days per visit and an electronic arrival card. August Chinese arrivals fell 30.2% to 68,051 during the pilot window.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
