Cambodian visitors fall 48% amid border clash

The number of Cambodian tourists visiting Thailand has plunged by 48% this month due to border closures, weakening a market that has slowed since last year, though Thai AirAsia reported a strong load factor on flights from Bangkok to Cambodia.

- NARUMON KASEMSUK

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said arrivals from Cambodia in the first five months of this year tallied 197,658, down 14% year-on-year, with daily arrivals averaging 1,200.

However, when the borders closed on June 7, Cambodian arrivals plummeted by 44% and continue to decline, with the largest dip of 81% occurring on June 14, she said.

Thus far in June, the Cambodian market has contracted by 48% to 14,758, of which 48% travelled by air and 51.9% via land borders.

Last year Cambodian arrivals totalled 553,060, decreasing 5% from 2023, with daily arrivals averaging 1,500.