China’s Xinhua news agency cited statistics of Cambodia’s Ministry ofTourism which showed the country welcomed 2.66 million international touristsin January-June, up 12.8 percent against the same period last year, with about20 percent from China.
China had thelargest number of visitors to Cambodia,followed by Vietnam and Laos.
Kong Sopheareak, director ofthe ministry’s statistics and planning department, said excellent ties between Cambodia and Chinaalong with Cambodia’sattractive tourist sites and direct flights between the two countries are thekey factors luring more Chinese tourists and business people to Cambodia.
He said 12 airlines operateabout 120 flights per week between Cambodian and Chinese cities.
The Southeast Asian country expectsto welcome one million Chinese visitors in 2017 and aims to draw two millionannually by 2020.
Tourism is one of theeconomic pillars of Cambodia.The country received 5 million foreign tourists, including 830,000 from China in 2016,earning total revenue of 3.4 billion USD.-VNA