Cambodia and China recently jointly hosted a gala dinner to promote mutual tourism destinations.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong said Cambodia received 6.2 million foreign tourists in 2018, up 11 percent year-on-year, of whom 1.9 million were Chinese tourists, up 70 percent.
The continued growth of Chinese tourists to Cambodia is thanks to increasing direct flights between the two countries, he said, adding that recently, Air China launched the first-ever direct flights between Beijing to Phnom Penh.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon said tourism accounted for 12.7 percent of Cambodia's gross domestic product (GDP) and has created direct and indirect jobs for millions of people.
China had been the biggest source of foreign tourists to Cambodia in 2017 and 2018, the minister said. Cambodia is expected to attract 3 million Chinese tourists in 2020, 5 million in 2025 and up to 8 million in 2030.
Read Original Article
