China Surpasses Vietnam and Others in Plunging Cambodia Tourism with a Record Decline in Tourist Arrivals for Eight Straight Months in 2026
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China surpasses Vietnam and others as plunging Cambodia tourism faces a record decline in tourist arrivals for eight straight months in 2026, with China leading visitor volumes while widespread source-market contractions deepen the downturn.
The figures point to broad weakness across Cambodia’s international visitor markets rather than a downturn concentrated in one country. Of the 30 individually listed source markets, Turkey was the only one to show year-on-year growth, at 12.8%.
Any January–August figures calculated from the six-month dataset should, however, be treated as estimates rather than confirmed eight-month tourism statistics.
China and Vietnam Remain Cambodia’s Biggest Source Markets
China generated 452,263 tourist arrivals to Cambodia during January–June 2026, the highest number among the individual markets in the supplied data.
Vietnam followed closely with 447,692 arrivals. Together, China and Vietnam accounted for almost 900,000 arrivals during the six-month period, highlighting their continued importance to Cambodia’s inbound tourism sector despite significant year-on-year declines.
Cambodia International Tourist Arrivals by Source Market January–June 2026
| Country | Region | Jan–Jun 2026 Arrivals | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Asia-Pacific | 452,263 | -22.9% |
| Vietnam | Asia-Pacific | 447,692 | -27.7% |
| United States | Americas | 104,636 | -11.3% |
| United Kingdom | Europe | 66,072 | -14.9% |
| France | Europe | 62,956 | -16.2% |
| Indonesia | Asia-Pacific | 49,625 | -39.5% |
| Australia | Asia-Pacific | 46,427 | -10.7% |
| Japan | Asia-Pacific | 42,082 | -23.4% |
| South Korea | Asia-Pacific | 39,693 | -57.8% |
| Thailand | Asia-Pacific | 36,331 | -96.1% |
| Malaysia | Asia-Pacific | 33,702 | -34.8% |
| Taiwan (China) | Asia-Pacific | 32,936 | -31.7% |
| Germany | Europe | 30,926 | -29.5% |
| India | Asia-Pacific | 29,763 | -17.3% |
| Philippines | Asia-Pacific | 24,817 | -35.9% |
| Canada | Americas | 22,892 | -11.5% |
| Russian Federation | Europe | 19,793 | -57.3% |
| Singapore | Asia-Pacific | 17,161 | -25.1% |
| Myanmar | Asia-Pacific | 14,322 | -21.8% |
| Italy | Europe | 13,907 | -24.8% |
| Poland | Europe | 13,349 | -3.5% |
| Lao PDR | Asia-Pacific | 10,456 | -91.1% |
| Spain | Europe | 9,782 | -25.3% |
| Netherlands | Europe | 9,666 | -26.0% |
| Israel | Europe* | 7,528 | -17.0% |
| New Zealand | Asia-Pacific | 7,482 | -14.4% |
| Switzerland | Europe | 6,880 | -21.0% |
| Turkey | Europe* | 6,464 | +12.8% |
| Belgium | Europe | 5,878 | -20.5% |
| Ireland | Europe | 4,981 | -17.6% |
| Rest of World | Other | 81,424 | -33.6% |
*Regional classifications follow the supplied dataset.
Estimated January–August Arrivals Show China Remaining Ahead
A simple extension of the January–June average monthly arrival rate would place China at approximately 603,017 arrivals for January–August 2026. Vietnam would follow closely at around 596,923.
The United States would reach an estimated 139,515 arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom at 88,096 and France at 83,941.
These are mathematical projections rather than official January–August tourism statistics. They assume that the January–June average monthly pace continued unchanged through July and August.
Estimated Cambodia Tourist Arrivals January–August 2026
| Country | Jan–Jun 2026 Actual | Jan–Aug 2026 Estimate | YoY Change Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 452,263 | 603,017 | -22.9% |
| Vietnam | 447,692 | 596,923 | -27.7% |
| United States | 104,636 | 139,515 | -11.3% |
| United Kingdom | 66,072 | 88,096 | -14.9% |
| France | 62,956 | 83,941 | -16.2% |
| Indonesia | 49,625 | 66,167 | -39.5% |
| Australia | 46,427 | 61,903 | -10.7% |
| Japan | 42,082 | 56,109 | -23.4% |
| South Korea | 39,693 | 52,924 | -57.8% |
| Thailand | 36,331 | 48,441 | -96.1% |
| Malaysia | 33,702 | 44,936 | -34.8% |
| Taiwan (China) | 32,936 | 43,915 | -31.7% |
| Germany | 30,926 | 41,235 | -29.5% |
| India | 29,763 | 39,684 | -17.3% |
| Philippines | 24,817 | 33,089 | -35.9% |
| Canada | 22,892 | 30,523 | -11.5% |
| Russian Federation | 19,793 | 26,391 | -57.3% |
| Singapore | 17,161 | 22,881 | -25.1% |
| Myanmar | 14,322 | 19,096 | -21.8% |
| Italy | 13,907 | 18,543 | -24.8% |
| Poland | 13,349 | 17,799 | -3.5% |
| Lao PDR | 10,456 | 13,941 | -91.1% |
| Spain | 9,782 | 13,043 | -25.3% |
| Netherlands | 9,666 | 12,888 | -26.0% |
| Israel | 7,528 | 10,037 | -17.0% |
| New Zealand | 7,482 | 9,976 | -14.4% |
| Switzerland | 6,880 | 9,173 | -21.0% |
| Turkey | 6,464 | 8,619 | +12.8% |
| Belgium | 5,878 | 7,837 | -20.5% |
| Ireland | 4,981 | 6,641 | -17.6% |
| Rest of World | 81,424 | 108,565 | -33.6% |
Thailand and Lao PDR Record the Steepest Percentage Falls
The most severe percentage declines in the supplied data came from two neighbouring markets.
Thailand generated 36,331 arrivals during January–June 2026, down 96.1% year on year. Lao PDR recorded 10,456 arrivals, representing a 91.1% decline.
South Korea also experienced a major contraction, with arrivals falling 57.8% to 39,693. The Russian Federation recorded 19,793 visitors, down 57.3%.
Indonesia fell 39.5% to 49,625 arrivals, while the Philippines declined 35.9% to 24,817. Malaysia recorded 33,702 arrivals, down 34.8%, and Taiwan recorded 32,936, a decline of 31.7%.
Numerical Declines Reveal the Potential Scale of the Downturn
The supplied year-on-year percentages can be used to reconstruct a comparative base and estimate the numerical reduction in tourists.
Under the same straight-line January–August methodology, Vietnam would show an estimated decline of approximately 228,700 visitors from its reconstructed comparative level, while China would be down around 179,100.
Thailand produces a much larger mathematical decline because the supplied data show a 96.1% contraction. Its projected January–August 2026 volume of approximately 48,441 would be about 1.19 million below the reconstructed comparative level.
Lao PDR would be approximately 142,700 lower, while South Korea would show an estimated reduction of about 72,500.
Biggest Estimated Tourist Arrival Losses January–August 2026
| Source Market | Estimated Jan–Aug 2026 Arrivals | Reconstructed Comparative Level | Estimated Numerical Change | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 48,441 | 1,242,077 | -1,193,636 | -96.1% |
| Vietnam | 596,923 | 825,620 | -228,697 | -27.7% |
| China | 603,017 | 782,123 | -179,106 | -22.9% |
| Lao PDR | 13,941 | 156,640 | -142,699 | -91.1% |
| South Korea | 52,924 | 125,412 | -72,488 | -57.8% |
| Rest of World | 108,565 | 163,502 | -54,937 | -33.6% |
| Indonesia | 66,167 | 109,367 | -43,200 | -39.5% |
| Russian Federation | 26,391 | 61,806 | -35,415 | -57.3% |
| Malaysia | 44,936 | 68,920 | -23,984 | -34.8% |
| Taiwan (China) | 43,915 | 64,297 | -20,382 | -31.7% |
| Philippines | 33,089 | 51,621 | -18,532 | -35.9% |
| United States | 139,515 | 157,289 | -17,774 | -11.3% |
| Germany | 41,235 | 58,489 | -17,254 | -29.5% |
| Japan | 56,109 | 73,249 | -17,140 | -23.4% |
| France | 83,941 | 100,168 | -16,227 | -16.2% |
| United Kingdom | 88,096 | 103,521 | -15,425 | -14.9% |
Important: The “reconstructed comparative level” and “estimated numerical change” are mathematical estimates derived from the supplied January–June totals and year-on-year rates. They are not official January–August figures.
United States Leads Listed Long-Haul Markets
The United States was Cambodia’s third-largest individual source market in the supplied dataset, generating 104,636 arrivals during January–June. That represented an 11.3% year-on-year decline.
The United Kingdom recorded 66,072 visitors, down 14.9%, while France contributed 62,956 arrivals, a decline of 16.2%.
Australia recorded 46,427 arrivals, down 10.7%. Canada generated 22,892 visitors, representing an 11.5% decline.
The figures show that the contraction extended beyond Cambodia’s neighbouring and regional markets into important long-haul markets in Europe, North America and Oceania.
European Markets Show Broad-Based Declines
Germany supplied 30,926 visitors during January–June, down 29.5%. Italy recorded 13,907 arrivals, representing a 24.8% decline, while Spain fell 25.3% to 9,782.
Arrivals from the Netherlands declined 26% to 9,666. Switzerland was down 21% at 6,880, Belgium declined 20.5% to 5,878 and Ireland fell 17.6% to 4,981.
Poland was among the most resilient declining markets, recording 13,349 arrivals and a comparatively modest 3.5% contraction.
Turkey Stands Apart With 12.8% Growth
Turkey was the exception to the broader downward trend in the supplied figures.
Cambodia received 6,464 visitors from Turkey during January–June, an increase of 12.8% year on year. It was the only individually listed source market to record positive growth.
Although Turkey’s visitor volume remained relatively small compared with China, Vietnam and the United States, its performance contrasted sharply with the declines recorded across most other markets.
What the January–August Estimates Mean
The projected figures provide an indication of what Cambodia’s eight-month tourism picture could look like if the January–June monthly pace and supplied year-on-year relationships were maintained.
They should not be described as confirmed January–August 2026 statistics. Tourism flows can vary significantly by month, particularly because of seasonality, holidays, transport conditions and changes in regional travel demand.
The distinction is particularly important when discussing numerical losses. A projected loss derived from a six-month percentage change is not the same as an officially reported eight-month decline.
Latest Position
The supplied figures establish Cambodia’s source-market performance for January–June 2026. They show China marginally ahead of Vietnam by visitor volume, widespread declines across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas, exceptionally steep percentage falls from Thailand and Lao PDR, and Turkey as the only individually listed growing market.
The January–August calculations provide a forward estimate based on those figures. Until confirmed eight-month statistics are available, the projected totals and numerical declines should remain clearly identified as estimates rather than official Cambodia tourism results.
China surpasses Vietnam and others in plunging Cambodia tourism with a record decline in tourist arrivals for eight straight months in 2026, as widespread source-market losses weaken inbound travel despite China leading visitor volumes.
In conclusion, China surpasses Vietnam and others in plunging Cambodia tourism with a record decline in tourist arrivals for eight straight months in 2026, as the country’s inbound travel sector faces broad-based weakness across major source markets. While China remained Cambodia’s largest individual visitor market, followed closely by Vietnam, both recorded significant year-on-year declines, contributing heavily to the overall downturn. The decline extended across Asia-Pacific, Europe and long-haul markets, with only Turkey recording growth among the listed destinations. The figures highlight the uneven recovery of Cambodia tourism and the challenges facing the country as it works to rebuild international visitor demand in 2026.
