Foreign and local tourists visit Pub Street in Siem Reap province during the three days of the Lunar New Year in February. Ministry of Tourism
In the first five months of the year, more than two million foreign travellers entered Cambodia. This represented an increase of nearly 40 per cent when compared with the same period last year, according to a senior immigration official.
“The number of international travellers who entered Cambodia in the first five months of this year exceeded two million. Of them, 1.7 million people were counted as tourists,” said Sok Veasna, general director of the General Department of Immigration (GDI) at the Ministry of Interior.
“This is equal to an increase of almost 40 per cent,” he added.
In an interview with the ministry TV station, broadcast on June 26, he noted a significant increase in Thai and Vietnamese tourists during this period, but explained that most Thai tourists only visit sites near the border.
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“We still count the Thai nationals as tourists because regardless of how long they stay , they came to Cambodia. We do know that most Thais visit towns and other attractions near to the border,” he said.
Royal Academy of Cambodia secretary-general Yang Peou lauded the increased figures, but noted that while they represented significant growth when compared to the immediate post-Covid-19 period, they were still far below pre-pandemic figures.
He hoped that the government, particularly through the Ministry of Tourism and other relevant institutions, would work harder to support the recovery of the Kingdom’s tourism sector.
“If we compare the number of arrivals to last year, we can see that it is increasing, but compared to pre-pandemic figures tourist numbers remain low,” he told The Post on June 27.
“Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and other major tourism destinations were severely affected by Covid-19. Siem Reap was the worst affected, and the doors of many businesses like hotels and guesthouses in the province remain closed,” he said.
Peou added that the owners of some of the businesses that have reopened are considering shuttering them again due to the seriousness of the downturn. Several owners have claimed that their businesses are not yet salvageable, viable or stable.
Veasna explained that in the 10 years since the establishment of the GDI, new technology has been adapted to serve the effective management of immigrants. The entry and exit of foreigners is closely controlled, he added.
“Our officials are responsible for monitoring all foreigners who enter the Kingdom, whether they intend to stay and do business, tour the country or just pass through. It is imperative that we record precise data, so we can protect security and public order,” he said.
Veasna noted that before the 2014 establishment of the GDI, the ministry employed just over 1,200 dedicated immigration officials. There are now more than 3,700 officials employed at the GDI.
He noted that in the past decade, about 80 per cent of them have received capacity development training.
According to a GDI report, on June 19, 33 Vietnamese nationals were deported from Cambodia in connection with entering the Kingdom illegally to reside and work.
