Cambodia

The 13th edition of the biennial Tini Tinou International Circus Festival, organised by Phare Ponleu Selpak and Phare, The Cambodian Circus, will take place from 17-24 Nov 2026, expanding across Siem Reap and Battambang. The 7-day event features contemporary performances, a street parade, the Circus Asia Network Annual General Meeting, a Phare-Australia collaborative premiere, a permanent refugee children's art gallery opening, and a special production marking Phare's 40th anniversary

The Ministry of Tourism is revising its use of the metaphor "bringing a frog out of a water well" following public feedback and debate regarding its interpretation. In an 8 Jul statement, the ministry clarified that the Tourism Minister originally used the phrase to describe strategies to elevate Cambodian destinations from limited recognition to global visibility. The ministry linked this revision to the Prime Minister's "Dynamics of One Entity" approach, which emphasises national unity and solidarity to strengthen the country's international image and drive tourism growth

Cambodia and Laos have committed to boosting bilateral economic cooperation by enhancing cross-border infrastructure, including roads, railways, and inland waterways. Both countries aim to harmonise transport procedures to reduce logistics costs and transit times, while targeting $700 million USD in two-way trade by 2030 - an increase from last year's $240 million. Furthermore, discussions focused on improving the business environment for investors, using both nations as regional transit hubs, and advancing energy cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid initiative to support renewable energy distribution

During a courtesy call on 8 Jun, Turkey’s newly appointed Ambassador to Cambodia and Cambodia's Minister of Tourism reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral tourism cooperation. Both nations agreed to accelerate a 2018 MoU by convening the first Cambodia-Turkey Tourism Working Group Meeting, organising familiarisation trips for media and operators, and hosting a Tourism Investment Forum. The Ambassador confirmed his attendance at the Cambodia Muslim Tourism Forum and Expo 2026 at the OCIC Chroy Changvar Convention and Exhibition Centre

Following its Article IV consultation mission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that Cambodia's real GDP growth will slow to 3% in 2026, down from 5.3% in 2025 and 6.0% in 2024. This economic deceleration is driven by higher energy prices, trade policy uncertainty, weak tourism, and subdued domestic demand in construction and real estate. Concurrently, inflation is forecast to rise sharply from an average of 2.5% in 2025 to 5.6% in 2026 due to energy costs, before moderating in 2027. The IMF recommends unwinding broad fuel support, safeguarding financial stability, and implementing structural reforms to enhance governance and the business climate

During a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Tourism Minister and UAE Ambassador reviewed bilateral tourism cooperation and initiated a feasibility study on a proposed mutual tourist visa exemption to increase visitor numbers from the UAE and the Middle East. Cambodia welcomed over 1,200 tourists arriving from the Middle East from Jan-May 2026

The Ministry of Tourism and X Capital Investment have partnered to promote Cambodia’s tourism potential and attract Chinese and international tourists and investors. During a meeting between the Tourism Minister and Director General, the company highlighted 3 flagship digital and promotional initiatives, including the Angkor App for tourism information, the Cambodia National Shop for selling Cambodian products in China, and the Angkor Smile Exhibition for hosting cultural promotional events in China

Cambodia emerged as Southeast Asia’s largest tourism underperformer from Jan-May 2026, with international visitor arrivals plunging 47.8% YoY to 1.54 million, down from 2.95 million last year. This contraction was driven by a 67.5% YoY collapse in land-border arrivals and a 19.8% YoY drop in air arrivals, contrasting with growth or minor declines across major ASEAN destinations. Major contractions hit Cambodia’s key source markets as Thai arrivals plummeted 96.2% YoY from 856,169 visitors down to 32,757, whilst visitors from Laos plunged 91.4% YoY, South Korea fell 59.9% YoY, Vietnam declined 25.9% YoY, China dropped 19% YoY, France fell 16.5% YoY, and the UK declined 14.5% YoY. Conversely, domestic tourism proved resilient as Cambodian domestic trips surged 54.2% YoY to reach 20.3 million, though internal foreign visitor trips fell 14.5% YoY, leaving the domestic market unable to offset the loss of higher spending from international tourists

On 7 Jul, Cambodia inaugurated an expanded 45km section of National Road 7 in Kampong Cham province, which was upgraded from 2 to 4 lanes by the China Road and Bridge Corporation. The project connects Cambodia's central region to its northeastern provinces, and is expected to boost tourism in Kampong Cham province

Around 120 tourism workers and business operators completed the Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) Training Programme in Koh Rong city in Preah Sihanouk province. The competency-based training took place from 23 Jun-1 Jul, covering 4 fields, including F&B service, front office operations, culinary arts, and housekeeping

The Ministry of Commerce has introduced new weekly retail fuel prices, effective from 1pm on 9 Jun, setting regular gasoline (Gasoline 92) at 3,950 riel per litre and diesel fuel (Gasoil 10ppm) at 4,100 riel per litre

The Ministry of Tourism is drafting a strategic plan to develop Preah Cheyvarman Norodom National Park, or Phnom Kulen, into a premier nature tourism destination, following a directive from the Prime Minister. During a consultative meeting on 3 Jul attended by around 130 participants, the Tourism Minister reviewed draft measures designed to promote development in the park from 2026 to 2028. The plan aims to diversify attractions, encourage longer visitor stays to benefit local economies, and draw tourists to destinations beyond the Angkor Archaeological Park

According to a report by Angkor Enterprise, Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park attracted 33,991 Chinese tourists in H1 2026, making China its fourth largest source of international visitors from Jan-Jun. In Jun 2026 alone, the site welcomed 4,272 Chinese tourists, positioning China as the second largest market for international arrivals that month

Siem Reap successfully hosted a 7-day corporate incentive programme for over 500 Indian delegates from MSP Steel & Power Limited, one of India's leading steel companies, The itinerary featured gala dinners, networking events, and cultural excursions to Angkor Archaeological Park, alongside activities like ziplining, quad biking, and artisan workshops

The Ministry of Tourism and Siem Reap provincial authorities hosted the 2-day "Cambodia’s Inland Ocean Celebration - Tonle Sap Lake" event on 26-27 Jun, themed “Visit Cambodia’s Green Season for Kampong Khleang Community”. The initiative aimed to promote sustainable, green, and community-based tourism to drive economic growth and improve local living standards. According to BambooShoot Foundation President Sea Sophal, a clean-up campaign running from Jan-Jun 2026 successfully extracted roughly 40 tonnes of plastic waste from the Kampong Khleang commune

The Cambodian government has officially cancelled the main 2026 Water Festival celebrations in Phnom Penh, originally scheduled for 23-25 Nov, to shift state focus towards national priorities, particularly along the Cambodian-Thai border and assisting displaced communities. The directive redirects government resources to support displaced people, veterans, and returning Cambodian workers, as well as managing natural disaster preparedness for potential floods and droughts in 2027. Provincial and municipal authorities are still permitted to host their own local Water Festival activities in accordance with regional traditions and conditions

According to Angkor Enterprise: In Jun 2026, Angkor Archaeological Park welcomed 28,301 tourists (-29.42% YoY) and generated $1,268,147 USD from ticket sales (-27.42% YoY) In H1 2026, the park welcomed 387,772 tourists (-31.69% YoY) and generated $18,472,469 USD in ticket revenue (-29.81% YoY) In June 2026, Koh Ker Temple received 362 visitors and generated $5,430 USD in revenue, Beng Mealea attracted 547 people and made $5,470 USD, Phnom Kbal Spean recorded 71 tourists and earned $355 USD, while Chong Kneas Port generated $28,350 USD from 697 boats' ticket sales In H1 2026, Koh Ker Temple attracted 7,755 people and earned $116,325 USD, Beng Mealea welcomed 8,343 visitors and generated $83,430 USD in revenue, Phnom Kbal Spean received 717 visitors and earned $3,585 USD in ticket sales, while Chong Kneas Port earned $426,665 USD from 9,760 boats

The 3-day "Cambodia Muslim Tourism Forum and Exhibition 2026" will take place from 10-12 Jul at the Food Palace (OCIC) in Phnom Penh under the theme "The Land of Gentle Hearts and Trusted Home in Travel". The event aims to boost Cambodia’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination, foster cultural exchange, and encourage local businesses to cater to the growing Muslim market. A forum will be held on 10 Jul featuring government officials, tourism experts, Muslim community leaders, and private sector representatives to discuss digital-era trends. Additionally, a Muslim Friendly Tourism Fair will showcase products and services tailored for Muslim travellers. According to the MoT, the number of Muslim tourists visiting Cambodia has steadily increased from over 180,000 in 2022 to around 350,000 in 2023 and reached over 440,000 in 2024

The Minister of Tourism has pledged his support for the “Cambodia So Much Fun” tourism promotion programme, a digital and social media initiative led by content creator Jeremie Alliance Piquard (Pu Barang) and his production team. During a working discussion, Piquard presented the first season of the programme, which uses authentic storytelling to highlight Cambodia’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and safety to encourage domestic and international visits

Speaking during a roundtable discussion, the Director-General of the Technical Affairs Department at the State Secretariat of Border Affairs stated that Cambodia does not oppose Thailand constructing a border fence within Thai territory, but urges that the exact alignment first be agreed upon through the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). The dispute arises from Thailand's unilateral construction of a fence between Boundary Markers No. 52 and 54 along the border of Battambang and Chanthaburi provinces. He warned that its proximity to the borderline could complicate future demarcation and the placement of additional boundary markers. Although Thai military officials offered to remove sections if future JBC work affects the structure, Cambodia considers this approach impractical

Cambodia will host the "Cambodia Travel Match (CTM) 2026 - India Special Edition" from 17-23 Jul. 35 Indian tourism enterprises, including outbound tour operators, destination management companies, and business leaders, plan to attend and tour various destinations. Delegates will participate in business-to-business meetings, networking, and destination inspections across Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, and Koh Rong Island, exploring iconic heritage sites alongside urban, coastal, luxury, and wellness tourism offerings

Effective from 1pm 30 Jun, the Ministry of Commerce has announced a further decline in retail fuel prices, setting regular gasoline (Gasoline 92) at 4,050 riel per litre and diesel fuel (Gasoil 10ppm) at 4,000 riel per litre

On 28 Jun, around 400 runners participated in the Kirirom Paradise Fun Run 2026, a 5km recreational run held at Kirirom National Park. The event is part of the Ministry of Tourism’s “Visit Cambodia in the Green Season” campaign

The Tourism Minister presided over the inauguration of a newly constructed 7km concrete and asphalt road at Kirirom Paradise in Kampong Speu province. The $1.22 million project was personally funded and built by the Director General of Vireak Buntham Express Co Ltd, aiming to boost accessibility, attract investors, and enhance tourism by leveraging Kampong Speu's natural landscapes, indigenous communities, and local products like palm sugar

The Battambang Provincial Administration will host the 10-day "Battambang Fruits Event 2026" from 10-19 Jul to promote the region's fruit industry, support local growers, and boost agri-tourism. A key highlight is a 3-day durian buffet from 10-12 Jul, offering 80-minute sessions of unlimited premium durians and local fruits with live traditional Khmer music

During an official visit to China from 25-27 Jun, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) President met the Chinese President and the Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Both sides agreed to deepen the Cambodia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthen party-to-party relations, and accelerate bilateral cooperation initiatives. They pledged to build the Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future by implementing the Diamond Cooperation Framework and developing the Industrial and Technological, Fish and Rice, and Belt and Road corridors

The first phase of an 8.3km border fence between Thailand and Cambodia in Chanthaburi's Pong Nam Ron district is 45% complete. The project features a 4.3-metre-high concrete and barbed-wire wall, and local checkpoints remain fully closed. Military officials clarified that temporary gaps in the fence are due to ongoing Joint Boundary Commission procedures regarding shared territory, which will eventually feature a hinged panel system for joint inspections. They emphasised that Cambodia has been invited to observe all construction stages to ensure transparency, dismissing edited online images that claimed boundary markers had been removed

Cambodia's Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology have launched a joint initiative to develop a "Green Leisure Corridor" connecting community-based ecotourism destinations across Koh Kong and Kampong Speu provinces. A joint inspection was conducted on 24 Jun to assess green infrastructure within the Cardamom Mountains National Park

The Senior Minister of the Siem Reap-Angkor Tourism Management and Development Commission has unveiled a 4-step strategy to revitalise Siem Reap province’s tourism value chain "from end to end". The 4 steps focus on expanding the market through tourism diplomacy to boost green-season arrivals; improving connectivity by offering aviation incentives and streamlining visas for cheaper tour packages; diversifying the visitor experience by promoting 6 new priority areas and reforming the Angkor pass; and ensuring quality and safety by enforcing food hygiene, running a plastic-free campaign, upgrading digital payments, and eradicating scams to encourage repeat visits

To map and protect endangered species in southwest Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, Conservation International (CI) is deploying hidden cameras, bioacoustic monitors, and artificial intelligence. CI's 2024 systematic survey of 150 camera traps revealed over 100 resident species, including pangolins, pig-tailed macaques, elephants, and dholes, and will be repeated later in 2026. The bioacoustic monitors, placed 3 kilometres apart to separate distinct troops, captured nearly 800 calls in 6 weeks, providing vital data to defend a landscape that has contributed to Cambodia losing a third of its total forest cover over the past 25 years and 7,000 hectares of Central Cardamom tree cover in the last 5 years

The Tourism Minister chaired the final consultation workshop to prepare Kampot City's nomination dossier for membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of Gastronomy. The workshop involved over 200 participants. The dossier is being drafted through joint technical working groups from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Kampot Provincial Administration, and UNESCO Cambodia

On 22 Jun, the Ministry of Economy and Finance discussed the "Draft National Strategy on the Development of MSMEs 2026-2030". The strategy outlines 3 key priorities for formally registered businesses, including establishing a sustainable foundation, enhancing production to meet domestic and export demands, and integrating MSMEs into global value chains. According to a researcher, SME enterprises comprise 98% of Cambodian businesses, generating 58% of GDP and employing 70% of the workforce, with the broader MSME sector supporting over 6 million people

On 23 Jun, the Tourism Minister and the Country Representative of The Asia Foundation held a working discussion to review the implementation of the Cambodia International Visitors’ Survey (CIVS). The initiative captures granular data on international travellers' expenditure patterns, stay durations, and preferred activities to help the ministry monitor shifting market trends, identify high-potential products, and formulate evidence-based policies

On the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on 18 Jun, Cambodian Prime Minister and Russian President met to intensify bilateral ties, celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Cambodia proposed a free trade agreement between Cambodia and the Eurasian Economic Union, which Russia backed, alongside discussions on establishing direct flight connections, creating tourism packages, and exploring partnerships for liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas supplies. The leaders signed an MoU on agricultural cooperation focused on fertiliser supplies

Effective from 1pm on 23 Jun, the Ministry of Commerce has announced a further decline in retail fuel prices, setting regular gasoline (Gasoline 92) at 4,350 riel per litre and diesel fuel (Gasoil 10ppm) at 4,250 riel per litre. The revised prices will remain in effect for 1 week

According to the Ministry of Tourism: From Jan-May 2026, Cambodia's international tourist arrivals reached 1.54 million (-47.8% YoY) China remained the largest source market with nearly 400,000 visitors (26%), followed closely by Vietnam at 381,062 (24%) and the US at over 91,000 Around 64% (975,769 tourists) entered via international airports (-20% YoY) Land and waterway arrivals experienced a sharper decline of 67.5% In contrast, domestic travel reached 20 million domestic trips between Jan-May 2026 (+54% YoY) The Ministry forecasts Cambodia’s foreign visitor depending on 3 scenarios: a worst-case of 4.6-4.8 million if current crises persist, a mid-case of 5.3-5.5 million if conditions improve but the Thai border dispute remains, and a best-case of 6.1-6.3 million if all challenges are resolved

At the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) from 15-18 Jun, Cambodia announced it has initiated compulsory conciliation proceedings under the convention against Thailand. Cambodian Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative stated that this action was necessitated after Thailand unilaterally terminated the 2001 MoU, and allegedly used military force in violation of Cambodia's sovereignty. The Cambodian mission rejected Thai claims that it was avoiding bilateral negotiations or attempting to internationalise the dispute

During a working meeting in Sofia on 17 Jun, Cambodian Ambassador and the Head of multiple European and Euro-Asian movements and associations discussed broadening economic and tourism ties between Cambodia and Bulgaria. The discussions identified construction, manufacturing, medical tourism, and the agro-industry as primary sectors for joint ventures. Both sides pledged to foster direct cooperation between their chambers of commerce and business associations. The Ambassador noted that visa access for Cambodians travelling to Bulgaria remains a challenge despite Cambodia offering e-visas to tourists

The Rural Development Minister inspected the progress of a new 14km concrete road in Svay Leu District. The project aims at improving connectivity and promoting ecotourism in the Phnom Kulen area. The 3-metre-wide road connects 5 villages, including Preah Ang Thom, Popeal, Khla Khmum, Sangkae Lak, and Ta Penh, directly serving 969 households and indirectly benefiting a further 1,237. Construction is currently 51% complete, and is scheduled for completion in Dec 2026

The Ministry of Environment and the Cambodian Red Cross Kampong Speu Branch conducted a first aid training programme in Tang Bampong village, Kampong Speu province. The initiative responded to rising visitor numbers at the Knong Psar ecotourism destination in the Cardamom Mountains

Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Border Affairs and Prime Minister have urgently called on Thailand to resume joint border survey and demarcation work, accusing Bangkok of causing repeated delays despite forming a new government. While the Thai Prime Minister attributes the postponements to internal administrative processes and is considering suspending bilateral mechanisms altogether due to Cambodia initiating an international UNCLOS conciliation process over overlapping maritime claims, Cambodia maintains that Thai military forces are illegally occupying its territory. Phnom Penh has lodged multiple diplomatic protests, alleging that Thai forces have destroyed homes and altered the border environment since launching a second round of military aggression last Dec

Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment launched new technical guidelines, approved on 1 Apr following 2 years of consultations, to strengthen the governance and investment framework for community-based nature tourism across the country's 73 protected areas. These projects generate between $800,000-$1 million USD annually from ticket sales alone, excluding accommodation, transport, and food, while creating roughly 4,400 jobs and attracting up to 1 million domestic visitors annually, a figure growing by 15% each year. To reduce rural poverty and heavy dependence on forest resources, the ministry operates 38 of these sites and has established 193 protected-area communities. Of these, 53 communities actively engage in nature tourism, benefiting nearly 14,000 households across 14 provinces through targeted infrastructure investments like forest trails, campsites, and hospitality training

Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism will lead a delegation to the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 in Yangon (Myanmar) from 14-17 Jun. The forum is organised by Myanmar's Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation and promote sustainable, people-centred tourism across the Greater Mekong Subregion. The Minister will sign an MoU on Tourism Cooperation between Cambodia and Myanmar, participate in the Cambodia-Myanmar Tourism Promotion Roadshow to market regional travel, and hold bilateral discussions with Myanmar leaders to boost tourist flows and restore post-pandemic travel networks

On 13 Jun 2026, the Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions led a green development campaign in Krang Thnong commune, planting trees along roadsides to protect the historic Tonle Bati resort area. The initiative was held under the theme “Planting Trees Together for the Environment, Tourism and the Preservation of Historical Heritage Sites”. The targeted reforestation effort aims to expand provincial green coverage, enhance ecological tourism appeal, and raise public awareness about safeguarding local antiquities

Cambodia expects to attract at least 600,000 Chinese visitors during its 4-month visa-free trial from 15 Jun-15 Oct. The Tourism Minister stated that the country has tailored its accommodation, dining, and transport options to the needs of Chinese travellers, while expanding Chinese-language guides and signage at key attractions and airports