Tourist Arrivals Up 20 Percent

Light and Sound show at Angkor Wat

TOURIST arrivals to Cambodia continue to soar, up 20 percent in the first half of 2007 compared to the same period last year, Tourism Minister H. E. Thong Khon said.

Some 980,000 visitors were recorded in the six months of this year, putting the country on track to realise its goal of five million annual arrivals by 2012.

More than half of those who visited this year flocked to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples in northwestern Siem Reap province.

"The basic reasons for the jump is security, safety and political stability," Thong Khon said, adding that a total of more than two million visitors pumping some 1.5 billion dollars into the economy were expected by year's end.

Cambodia recorded about 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2006.

Officials say the government is trying to persuade tourists to stay longer and see sights other than the World Heritage-listed Angkor temples, tapping into a number of other areas such as eco-tourism.

Worth noting that for the First Semester of 2007, Cambodia reached a total of 975,349 international visitor, an 19.91% increase compared to the same period of 2006, Siem Reap Province arrivals had increased to 615,445 visitors with a share of 63.10% and an increase of 55.67% change from last year, while Phnom Penh and other destinations had brought in a total of 359,903 visitors and a share of 36.90%.

INDEX:

Angkor International Tourism Exchange (AITEX)

H.E. Deputy PM Hor Namhong Prticipates in the 40th ASEAN Ministeral Meeting

Australia Welcomes Cambodia Counter-Terrorism Law

Angkor Wat Show, The Legend of Angkor Wat, When History Come to Life

Cambodia To Host First International Golf Tournament

Tourist Arrivals Up 20 Percent

Developing Tourist Resorts Islands