Photo by: Lim Roma
Cambodia’s experience in 2025 was challenging. As borders turned into battlegrounds, tourism became collateral damage.
According to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Cambodia received approximately 5.57 million international tourists in 2025, representing a 16.9 percent decline from 6.7 million in 2024. This decline was not gradual. Instead, it was sudden and concentrated, and it was closely linked to renewed border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, particularly during peak travel periods. Heightened security concerns during these periods discouraged tourists from visiting the country.
The most serious impact occurred in December, which is usually the high season for Cambodia’s tourism industry. International arrivals fell to 396,911, a 43.2 percent year-on-year decrease compared to nearly 700,000 visitors in December 2024. This sharp decline in a single month erased much of the recovery achieved earlier in the year and pushed the sector far below the government’s 7-million-visitor target.
Despite the fall in visitor numbers, tourism revenue increased. While data from the Ministry of Tourism shows a decline in international arrivals, figures from the National Bank of Cambodia indicate that tourism revenue rose in 2025. Taken together, this suggests that although fewer tourists visited Cambodia, average spending per visitor increased, reflecting a gradual shift toward higher-value tourism.
One of the most important lessons from 2025 is that tourism depends heavily on perception, not just geography. Although the clashes were limited to certain areas, cancellations occurred nationwide. Many travellers did not clearly distinguish between affected and unaffected destinations once uncertainty spread.
These concerns were further intensified by regional media coverage, travel advisories, and growing worries about technology-related fraud. For international tourists, the key question is no longer only “Is the destination attractive?” but increasingly “Is it safe and predictable?”
Cambodia’s tourism performance in 2025 is therefore not simply about declining arrival numbers. It demonstrates how quickly confidence can disappear, even when economic fundamentals remain strong. To rebuild growth in 2026, Cambodia will need more than new flights and promotional campaigns. Restoring trust will be essential, as it remains the most fragile and important foundation of the tourism sector.