Cambodia’s arrivals take a hit
March 17, 2009 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
Arrivals in the first month of January drop by 2.19% as travel from top producing market nose dives.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism reported 218,691 arrivals, in January 2009, a decrease of 2.19%, on 223,581 arrivals in January 2008.
The first signs of decline were recorded last October, leading to a decline of 5% during the last quarter — 577,536 arrivals compared with 607,964 in quarter four of 2007.
2008 recorded 2.1 million visitor arrivals, compared with 2 million arrivals in 2007, representing a single digit growth of just 5.8%, after four years of double digit growth.
South Korea was the top producer in January 2008, but during the first month of this year, it sank 38.24% from 36,472 to 22,524 arrivals.
Vietnam took the top slot of producing markets with a 27.96% growth from 17,877 to 22,875 arrivals. Arrivals from China increased 53.45% from 11,009 to 16,893 arrivals. On the negative side arrivals from Thailand decreased 28.46% from 12,644 to 9,046 arrivals.
Long haul markets produced a mixed performance. North America generated 16,975 arrivals; 5.23% down from 17,911 arrivals last year. The UK and France, both, recorded growth with 11,328 arrivals from the UK, or a 4.46% increase, and 10,993 arrivals from France, representing a 9.57% increase.
Overall, arrivals by air decreased 10.99% — down 13.91% at Siem Reap International Airport, from 81,875 to 70,489 arrivals, while Phnom Penh International Airport declined 6.60% from 54,336 to 50,749 arrivals.
