Phnom Penh Sees Surge in Foreign Tourists with Over 1.3 Million Visitors in First Eight Months of 2025
Phnom Penh, October 2025 — Phnom Penh has witnessed a remarkable rebound in its tourism sector, with over 1.3 million foreign tourists visiting the capital city in the first eight months of 2025. This figure represents a staggering 117% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Mr. Huot Hay, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh.
Speaking at the recent Cambodia Muslim Tourism Forum and Exhibition 2025, Mr. Huot highlighted the steady rise in international visitors as Cambodia continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on global travel.
“Phnom Penh’s tourism industry is on a strong upward trajectory,” Mr. Huot said. “The increase in foreign tourists reflects both renewed confidence in Cambodia as a safe and attractive destination and the government’s ongoing efforts to support the sector.”
The city received approximately 1,341,653 international tourists from January through August 2025, showing a 114% jump from the previous year. During the same period, domestic tourism surged even more significantly, with 7,025,759 local visitors, marking a 204% increase compared to 2024.
In total, Phnom Penh welcomed 8,367,412 tourists in the first eight months of this year, combining both domestic and international travelers.
This robust growth follows a successful 2024, when Phnom Penh attracted 11,588,640 tourists—a 48% increase over 2023. Of these, 2,268,253 were international tourists, and 9,320,387 were domestic visitors, underscoring the dual engines fueling Cambodia’s tourism revival.
The steady climb in tourism is critical for Phnom Penh’s economy, which relies heavily on hospitality, transportation, and cultural sectors. Experts suggest that the recent improvements in infrastructure, enhanced marketing campaigns, and Cambodia’s increasing appeal as a travel destination have all contributed to the surge.
Industry stakeholders remain optimistic that this upward trend will continue through the end of 2025 and beyond, as the city prepares to host more international events and strengthen its position as a key Southeast Asian hub.
