Vietnamese remain top foreign visitors to Cambodia

With 854,000 travelling to the neighbouring country last year, up 12 percent over the previous year, Vietnamese remain the top foreign visitors to Cambodia.

Cambodia attracted 4.2 million overseas tourist arrivals in 2013 and raked in US$2.5 billion in revenue, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reports the Cambodian Tourism Ministry as saying on Monday.

In recent years, Vietnam has taken the lead in visitor arrivals to Cambodia and contributes 20 percent of foreign tourist numbers to the country.

China and South Korea ranked second and third after Vietnam for foreign tourist arrivals to Cambodia last year with 463,000 and 435,000 visitors respectively.

Tourism is one of Cambodia’s major economic sectors with an annual growth of between 15 to 20 percent.

Last year, the country received 3.58 million overseas tourist arrivals and earned US$2.21 billion.

The Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and the ancient Preah Vihear Temple near the border with Thailand remain favourite destinations for visitors.