Chinese tourists flock to Cambodia.

Tourists visit the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Photo: SCMP.

Cambodia is confident of attracting more Chinese tourists and investors in the near future, after the Cambodia-China Cultural Tourism Bridge Development Association pledged to promote the country's tourism and investment potential to its members, the Phnom Penh Post reported.

This move comes as the Cambodian government prepares to launch a pilot visa-free program for Chinese citizens from mid-June to mid-October.

Mr. Yong Li Chai, representing the association, met with Cambodian Minister of Tourism Hout Hak. During the meeting, Mr. Yong presented new initiatives related to tourism products between Cambodia and China.

"The association will coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism to promote and attract more major investors from China to Cambodia," he said.

Announced in January, the visa-free pilot program will run from June 15th to October 15th. Holders of ordinary Chinese passports are allowed to stay in Cambodia for up to 14 days without needing a visa or paying an entry fee. Holders of multiple-entry visas only need to complete the entry declaration procedure.

A Cambodian tour guide helps Chinese tourists take photos at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, 2024. Photo: CFP .

According to Global Times , following the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism's announcement of the policy, Chinese online travel platforms have seen a sharp increase in searches for flights to Cambodia.

The number of searches for major flight routes from China to Cambodia on the booking site Tongcheng.com has doubled. Siem Reap continues to be a major destination, with a significant increase in searches for flights from China to Siem Reap, particularly the Shanghai-Siem Reap route, which has seen a fivefold increase.

Airfares from major Chinese cities to Techo International Airport are generally low, mostly under 1,000 yuan (approximately $142 USD ) for economy class, with routes from Guangzhou and Shenzhen even below 500 yuan.

In 2025, Cambodia is expected to welcome approximately 5.57 million international tourists, including over 1.2 million Chinese visitors, an increase of nearly 42%, making China Cambodia's second largest international tourist market. In the first four months of this year, Cambodia received over 240,000 Chinese tourists, making China its largest source market.

Tourists visit Angkor Wat temple at the Angkor archaeological site in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Photo: Xinhua.

Mr. Thourn Sinan, President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), stated that China is a market with great potential and called this visa waiver program "the biggest tourism experiment in Cambodian history."

According to him, the new policy will have a positive impact on the tourism industry, but Cambodia needs to continue promoting itself to build an image of a safe destination in the eyes of international tourists.

"This is a very good pilot program and we expect many positive results. I believe this visa exemption policy will yield positive results, but Cambodia also needs to implement it cautiously and thoroughly," he said.