The tourism industry in Cambodia is one of the most important sectors in the country's economy. In 2013, tourism arrivals increased by 17.5 percent year on year, with business travelers increasing 47 percent.

Statistics

Year Tourism arrivals Change References20246,700,125 22.9%20235,453,231 139.5%20222,276,6262021196,495 85.0%20201,306,143 80.2%20196,610,592 6.6%2018 6,201,077 10.7% 2017 5,602,157 11.7% 2016 5,011,712 4.95% 2015 4,775,231 6.1% 2014 4,502,775 7.0% 2013 4,210,165 17.5% 2012 3,584,307 24.4% 2011 2,881,862 14.9% 2010 2,508,289 16.0% 2009 2,161,577 1.7% 2008 2,125,465 1.5% 2007 2,015,128 18.5% 2006 1,700,041 19.6% 2005 1,421,615 34.7% 2004 1,055,202 50.5%

Ranking of international visitor arrivals

Country or territory 20242018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 ASEAN 4,235,6312,067,504 2,161,254 2,121,220 2,097,758 1,918,130 1,831,507 1,514,267 1,101,111 848,9522,024,443 1,210,782 830,003 694,712 560,335 463,123 333,894 247,197* 1,340,587800,128 835,355 959,663 987,792 905,801 854,104 763,136 614,090 * 334,448426,180 502,219 369,335 405,359 460,191 414,531 254,022 128,525*2,146,674382,317 394,934 398,081 349,908 279,457 221,259 201,422 116,758 192,305301,770 345,081 357,194 395,259 424,424 435,009 411,491 342,810 214,529250,813 256,544 238,658 217,510 191,366 184,964 173,076 153,953 112,718210,471 203,373 191,577 193,330 215,788 206,932 179,327 161,804 * 94,260201,116 179,316 152,843 149,389 144,437 130,704 116,764 102,929 131,738170,844 166,356 150,294 145,724 141,052 131,486 121,175 117,408 115,148162,395 171,162 159,489 154,265 133,306 123,919 110,182 104,052 84,329134,430 121,023 104,765 109,727 97,528 96,992 92,811 98,363 104,489127,430 143,852 146,806 134,748 134,167 132,028 117,729 105,010 74,86198,976 118,265 108,784 94,040 84,143 81,565 72,537 63,398*69,142 98,499 108,032 84,677 93,475 118,999 97,487 70,718* 45,89586,251 81,063 70,556 67,669 65,855 57,808 53,184 47,594 77,63265,882 59,571 46,131 36,671 28,529 23,610 18,999 15,240 71,90164,726 65,275 53,164 55,500 108,601 131,675 99,750 67,747 43,23961,551 69,077 60,715 56,834 52,264 50,867 47,829 42,462 * Country in ASEAN

Major attractions

World Heritage Sites

Angkor Preah Vihear Sambor Prei Kuk Koh Ker

Museums

Angkor National Museum Cambodian Cultural Village National Museum of Cambodia Battambang Provincial Museum Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Natural areas

Bou Sra Waterfall Lake Yeak Laom Phnom Kulen Phnom Santuk Tonle Sap

National parks

Botum Sakor National Park Kep National Park Kirirom National Park Koh Rong Marine National Park Phnom Kulen National Park Preah Monivong National Park Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary Ream National Park Virachey National Park Southern Cardamom National Park

Cities

Battambang Kampot Kratié Phnom Penh Siem Reap Sihanoukville

Other

Angkor Borei and Phnom Da Banteay Chhmar Banteay Prey Nokor Banteay Srei Beng Mealea Bokor Hill Station Khmer Ceramics & Fine Arts Centre Koh Rong Koh Rong Sanloem Oudong Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre Preah Khan Kompong Svay Silver Pagoda Royal Palace of Cambodia

Orphanage tourism Whilst there are approximately over half a million orphans in the country, only 1% of Cambodian orphans live in orphanages with most parentless children cared for by their extended family or community. Yet, these institutions receive a huge amount of support both in donations and volunteer applications. According to UNICEF, the largest financial support comes from Australia, particularly from faith-based organisations, with 51% of churchgoers and over 3,000 local churches supporting care institutions both in Cambodia and throughout Southeast Asia.

This support is ensured thanks to a booming orphanage tourism industry which has become a major problem across the country. An increasing number of travel agencies, charities, universities and high schools advertise placements to Cambodian orphanages. As visitor numbers grow, there has been an explosion in the number of orphanages - between 2005 and 2015, there was a 60% increase, with half concentrated in the tourist destinations and two largest cities of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Facility owners have recognized an opportunity to profit significantly from an increased pool of foreign donors and volunteers, with around half being completely unlicensed or unregulated.

The industry is also fuelled by poverty with poor families latching on to the false hope of a better education for their children within these institutions. According to the Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation: “There is a general idea amongst ordinary people that ‘our children can lead a good life in the RCIs (residential care institutions)’.’’. Due to a lack of strong state assistance in education and social services for children, poor families are tempted to give up their children to RCI’s with the hope that they will be more adequately provided for.

Many facilities are poorly run, incentivized by the prospect of lucrative profits. Research has shown that since the neediest institutions are likely to receive the most money from the altruistic donors, some are kept deliberately in bad conditions despite substantial donations. Sometimes, children are also paraded through the streets, taught to beg, sell goods, and perform to tourists for money. In this way, they become an exploited commodity, lining the pockets of institution owners.

Even in legitimate, well-run orphanages, such facilities can still be damaging; institutionalised children are more likely to experience developmental delays, behavioural issues, poor physical health and reduced intellectual capability compared to those living at home with parents or extended carers. Volunteers that come to these orphanages are usually unskilled and only stay for a short while. Not only does this create a child safeguarding risk, but it can also cause long-term emotional stress for already vulnerable children as they are encouraged to form close attachments with strangers only to be abandoned repeatedly.

See also Visa policy of Cambodia History of Cambodia Culture of Cambodia Dance of Cambodia Clothing of Cambodia Cuisine of Cambodia List of mammals in Cambodia List of birds of Cambodia List of islands of Cambodia Khmer language

References

External links All Cambodia Information site go to https://web.archive.org/web/20160403085408/http://www.tourismcambodiainfo.com/