Cambodia’s hospitality industry faced challenges in the year 2025. The treatment from the pandemic was unequal. Some sections remained strong, but there were still weak spots. Later in January 2026, the Ministry of Tourism released standard data. Next month, Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million foreign visitors. This number represents a 16.9 % decrease from the 6. 7 million visitors recorded in 2024. It also remains 15.7 % below the 2019 standard of 6.61 million. These figures demonstrate that there hasn’t been a complete recovery. The healing is uneven, and the sector has not yet recovered at the same rate as it did before. Between the week’s two parts, annual patterns were stark different. The second quarter produced modest benefits, but the next quarter slowed down. The third and fourth quarters dropped by -38 % and -37.2 % compared to 2024. These drops completely erased earlier advancement. With just 396 immigrants in December 2025, this pattern suffered the worst. That quantity is 43.2 % lower than December 2024. This decline was attributed to military hostilities and frontier tensions with Thailand, according to experts. Land bridges during the high time were impacted by the issue in Battambang and Siem Reap. This resulted in traveling recommendations, travel recommendations, and less confidence in the area. In 2025, travelers to Cambodia experienced different arrivals and local encroachments. Air visitors increased in frequency and made up 51.3 % of total flows. This growth was driven by significant increases at Sihanoukville International Airport ( +144.5 % ). Phnom Penh International Airport’s 2019 efficiency ranges are also on the verge of peak. visitors on land and sea decreased by about -37 %. This decrease is related to the sharp decline in tourists from ASEAN’s neighboring places. Nevertheless, ASEAN customers dropped by 34.5 %. The origins of Cambodia’s commerce were altered by this move. Standard ASEAN businesses slowed. Thailand’s visitors decreased by -52.4 % to just over 1 million. Laos residents saw a drop of -60.7 %. Vietnam remained the most popular resource industry, receiving approximately 1.22 million visitors. Despite having better performance than people, it still lost -8.8 %. Short-haul local journey was halted due to security concerns, safety concerns, and border conflicts. Beautiful Spots: China’s Recession and Emerging DiversificationLong-haul and a range of markets provided positive reports. The Chinese industry made a significant recovery. 1. 2 million people visited. This is a 41.5 % increase over 2024. China now accounts for 21.6 % of all foreign visitors. It has once more become a major cause of treatment. This expansion was fueled by visa assistance, fresh flight routes, and certain promotions. Other areas made significant efforts to entice different markets: nevertheless, Europe increased by + 3.2 %. The United Kingdom ( + 10.4 % ), France ( + 3.4 % ), Poland ( + 20.7 % ), and Uzbekistan ( + 143.6 % ) showed gains. Americas continued to be largely stable (-1.9 % ).
Africa grew by + 8.7 %. Morocco and Tunisia, two North American nations, did also.
These changes indicate a change in attitudes toward long-distance travelers who travel by air. Home hospitality has stabilized, but domestic travel has changed frequently. Cambodian visitors ( KHM) to various regions increased by 11.7 % in 2025. Sihanoukville and the Coastal Zone, as well as Phnom Penh, saw a lot of exercise. This industry-supported regional attention. Accommodations, restaurants, and service continued to be the main areas of economic activity. The global decline was partly offset by it. Economic Implications and Strategic Crossroads Tourism in Cambodia contributed approximately 9.4 % to GDP in 2024. This was a decrease from the prior crisis of over 12 %. Worries about the firm’s course were uncovered by data from 2025. Estimated revenue growth was reasonable, reaching about USD 3.7 billion. Even with fewer customers, this is up about 3 %. This was probably caused by shifts toward higher-spending heat visitors. Among the main dangers and objectives are:
Large reliance on China: This makes the sector vulnerable to declines in that single market.
Lower local profitability: This is evident from ASEAN’s declines. It results from logistical challenges, borders problems, and more fierce neighborly competitors.
The nation had approach emerging markets like Africa, non-ASEAN Asia, and Europe with immediate need for wider areas.
Upmarket setting: Around 7.1 days have passed since the average stay has stopped. Much visitor experiences may increase spending.
2025 was hardly a complete resumption of the pre-pandemic peaks. A time of terrible but important changes was required. Tourism in Cambodia has a decision. It must deal with the absence of conventional local short-haul travelers. Additionally, it needs to take advantage of the powerful domestic desire and the flood of long-distance travelers. Immediate action is necessary for a long-lasting recuperation. Flexible rules and improved air communication are required by authorities. This includes airport improvements and new airport updates. Businesses must develop promotions for various groups. The industry requires choices besides well-known landmarks like Angkor Wat. These include social experience, tourism, and coastal locations. Cambodia is a country with a rich history, beautiful scenery, and great place. These conditions make it strong in the beginning. Regional competition is fierce. The nation has change right away. The jobs are challenging to complete.
