Cambodia is still facing difficulties.

Cambodia's tourism sector enters 2026 with an even bleaker outlook, as soaring fuel prices continue to erode an already fragile recovery.

Tuk-tuk drivers wait for passengers at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo: @Damian/Flickr .

The outlook for Cambodian tourism in 2026 is becoming more uncertain as fuel prices escalate and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive up travel costs. This pressure comes at a time when the country's tourism industry has yet to regain solid momentum.

Previously, Cambodia was affected by safety concerns following tensions with Thailand, along with negative information related to fraud, making the industry's recovery even more difficult.

According to Kiripost , Cambodia is projected to achieve US$3.87 billion in tourism revenue in 2025, a 6.6% increase compared to 2024. However, this increase does not reflect a completely positive picture, as the number of international visitors in the same year decreased sharply by 16.9%, to 5.57 million. This indicates that while Cambodian tourism still generates significant revenue, its attractiveness to visitors is weakening considerably.

Ms. Hun Dany, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, acknowledged that the current situation is "not very promising" and attributed the industry's difficulties primarily to geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict in the Middle East.

Previously, Cambodia aimed to welcome approximately 5.6-5.8 million international tourists in 2026, but given the current global context, this goal is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. Even the authorities themselves acknowledge that it is difficult to make a definitive forecast as international variables continue to change.

Techo International Airport (Phnom Penh), scheduled to open in October 2025, is expected to usher in a new era for Cambodian tourism. Photo: Reuters .

One of the most obvious threats is the rising airfares fueled by the crisis. The Cambodian Civil Aviation Authority stated that tensions in the Middle East, coupled with the ripple effect of the global fuel crisis, have forced airlines operating in Cambodia to increase fares on many domestic and regional routes. As travel costs rise, the competitiveness of a destination heavily reliant on air connectivity, like Cambodia, is easily eroded, especially with long-haul markets.

According to Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, fuel prices are currently the industry's top concern. She argues that rising fuel costs make long-haul airfares more expensive, potentially deterring tourists from Western markets, while domestic transportation and tour organization costs also increase. This poses significant pressure on Cambodia as it strives to maintain its attractiveness in the increasingly fierce competition among Southeast Asian destinations.

Tourists walk with a guide outside the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2020. Photo: Reuters .

Nevertheless, Cambodian officials and tourism businesses have not given up hope. Ms. Chhay Sivlin believes that the revenue increase in 2025 signals that Cambodia is gradually shifting towards a higher-value tourism model, where tourists stay longer and spend more.

She predicted that tourism revenue in 2026 could still exceed $4 billion if the government continues to effectively address the issues that affected the country's image in the previous year. However, along with that optimism comes a warning that high fuel prices will remain a challenge, forcing the industry to respond with targeted support policies and product diversification to maintain competitiveness.

Source: https://znews.vn/campuchia-van-kho-post1640006.html