Siem Reap Reports Sharp Decline in Year-End Holiday Visitors Amid Regional Tensions

SIEM REAP, Cambodia – January 3, 2026 — While the global travel industry looks toward a robust 2026, Cambodia’s premier tourist hub, Siem Reap, is showing with a significant plummet. Official data released this week shows a marked decline in visitor numbers during the critical year-end holiday period, raising concerns among local businesses and tourism officials.

According to the latest reports from the provincial Department of Tourism of Siem Reap, approximately 286,751 tourists and locals visited Siem Reap between December 30 and 31, 2025. This represents a 14.06% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

The dip was even more pronounced for international arrivals. Angkor Enterprise, the state-owned agency managing the Angkor Archaeological Park, reported that foreign visitor numbers in December 2025 plummeted by 30% year-on-year. Only 87,936 foreign tourists visited the UNESCO World Heritage site during the month, with ticket revenue falling by 28.5% to $4.23 million.

The "Key Factors behind the Downturn" are noticeably Border tension with Thailand, Global Economic with high inflation and a seasonal change of destination (such as PHNOM PENH instead of Siem Reap).

Despite the holiday slump, the Cambodian government is moving to stabilize the sector. A new pilot visa-free policy for Chinese citizens is scheduled to launch later this year, and the Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB) has been granted a $50 million fund to enhance global promotion and infrastructure.