PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's famous Angkor Archaeological Park recorded a total of 18,145 Chinese tourist visits during the first quarter of 2026, making China the fourth-largest source of international tourist arrivals to the UNESCO-listed world heritage site during the period, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise's report.
Situated in northwest Siem Reap province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, the kingdom's most popular tourist destination, is home to 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director at the China-ASEAN Studies Center of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said the slump was likely due to the impact of online scams, border conflict with Thailand, and global fuel price hikes.
"Supported by strong air connectivity with China and effective promotion, we hope that Cambodia's pilot visa-free policy for Chinese nationals, set to begin from June 15 to Oct. 15, 2026, will help attract more Chinese tourists to Cambodia, especially to the Angkor complex," he told Xinhua. ■
