Cambodia PM calls for return of Chinese tourists

The prime minister said, "Send my message to the Chinese people, visit Cambodia, we will give you every opportunity. Cambodia is a Wonderland: Tourists who visit Cambodia say that the Cambodian people are kind and friendly. Cambodia has many ancient temples," Khmer Times reported.

"I call on the Chinese people to visit Cambodia to find out what our country can offer, our people, our culture," he added.

His statement came after recent reports on social media claimed Cambodia is not a safe destination, sparking worries among Chinese tourists.

Chinese cybercrime thriller "No More Bets," recently released in China, depicts scenes of kidnappings and online scams in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.

The blockbuster is banned in Cambodia.

China was the biggest source of international tourists to Cambodia before Covid.

Cambodia received 2.36 million Chinese tourists in 2019, accounting for 35.7% of total international tourist arrivals and generating about US$1.8 billion in revenue.

But the country only received 364,844 Chinese visitors during the January-August period this year, a year-on-year increase of 611%.

The number accounted for 10.4% of the 3.5 million international tourist arrivals to the country during the first eight months of this year.