Synopsis: The government’s pilot visa-free programme will take effect on June 15 and run until October 15. Under the initiative, Chinese citizens, including passport holders from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, will be able to enter Cambodia without a visa.
Chinese tourists have emerged as the largest source of international visitors to Cambodia, underscoring the importance of the Chinese market as the government prepares to launch a pilot visa-free entry scheme aimed at boosting arrivals and strengthening tourism recovery.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia welcomed 331,199 Chinese visitors during the first four months of 2026, making China the Kingdom’s leading source of international tourists. The figure places China ahead of neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, which had previously dominated Cambodia’s tourism market in recent years.
Despite retaining the top position, Chinese arrivals between January and April declined by 14.5 percent compared to the same period in 2025, highlighting the challenges facing the global tourism industry amid economic uncertainty and shifting travel patterns.
Tourism Minister Huot Hak described the Chinese market as one of Cambodia’s most promising tourism segments and expressed confidence that a new visa exemption policy would help accelerate growth in arrivals.
Speaking during interviews with more than 11 major Chinese media organizations on June 13, the minister said the upcoming initiative demonstrated Cambodia’s commitment to deepening tourism cooperation with China while enhancing the Kingdom’s attractiveness as a travel destination.
“Chinese tourists ranked first among international visitor arrivals to Cambodia, reflecting the strong potential of the Chinese tourism market for Cambodia’s tourism sector,” Hak said.
The government’s pilot visa-free programme will officially take effect on June 15 and run until October 15. Under the initiative, Chinese citizens, including passport holders from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, will be able to enter Cambodia without a visa.
The policy allows multiple entries and permits visitors to stay for up to 14 days per visit. Travellers are only required to complete Cambodia’s digital E-Arrival Card before entering the country, eliminating visa fees and lengthy application procedures.
Tourism officials believe the measure will remove a key barrier to travel and encourage more Chinese holidaymakers, business travellers and investors to visit the Kingdom.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Cambodian government to revitalise the tourism sector, which remains a critical pillar of the national economy. Tourism contributes significantly to employment, foreign exchange earnings and economic growth, particularly in destinations such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk province.
Last year, Cambodia welcomed more than 1.2 million Chinese visitors, representing a 41.5 percent increase compared with 2024. The strong growth reflected the gradual recovery of international travel and the strengthening of bilateral ties between Cambodia and China.
Hak emphasised that Cambodia is fully prepared to accommodate a larger number of visitors from China and other international markets.
“Chinese travellers will receive warm and heartfelt hospitality from their very first footsteps in the Kingdom,” he said.
“Cambodia is a safe, friendly, and welcoming tourism destination, fully prepared to receive tourists and investors from around the world. We are ready to provide a warm welcome, excellent service, and unforgettable travel experience.”
The minister added that authorities expect the visa exemption program to deliver positive outcomes not only for tourism but also for investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Industry representatives have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major opportunity to strengthen tourism demand and support businesses across the sector.
Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, called the visa waiver a landmark development.
“This is the major news the industry has been waiting for. I believe this visa exemption will provide us with highly satisfactory results,” she told Khmer Times.
Sivlin noted that the private sector should work closely with the government to promote the policy and increase awareness among Chinese travellers. She also stressed the importance of communicating Cambodia’s efforts to improve safety, service quality and tourism infrastructure to strengthen visitor confidence.
Meanwhile, Khiev Thy, President of the Siem Reap Angkor Guides Association, said the policy comes at a crucial time as tourism operators face slower visitor growth due to global economic pressures and regional uncertainties.
“As tourist arrivals decrease in Siem Reap province, the visa exemption will play an important role in attracting arrivals of Chinese tourists,” he said.
Officials and industry leaders are optimistic that the visa exemption programme will further strengthen travel flows and contribute to the sector’s continued recovery and long-term growth.
