Cambodia Ready to Welcome Surge of Indian Tourists in 2026 as Direct Flights Expand

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Jan. 3, 2026) — Cambodia is preparing to welcome a surge of Indian tourists in 2026 as direct air links expand and bilateral tourism cooperation strengthens, the Ministry of Tourism said Friday.

Tourism Minister Huot Hak met with Indian Ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung to exchange New Year greetings and discuss ways to further promote tourism cooperation.

The ambassador praised close collaboration between the ministry and the Indian Embassy, noting that joint promotional activities in 2025 helped boost Indian arrivals. He also highlighted India’s support through three Quick Impact Project initiatives aimed at developing eco-tourism communities in Cambodia.

Hak thanked India for its sustained support, particularly through the “Cambodia–India Tourism Year” initiative, which drove a sharp rise in Indian visitors late last year. He said Cambodia’s private sector is ready to meet the expected influx in 2026, supported by new direct flights between New Delhi and Phnom Penh by Air Cambodia and between Kolkata and Siem Reap by IndiGo Airlines.

India has become one of Cambodia’s fastest-growing tourism markets. More than 75,000 Indian tourists visited in 2024, drawn by Angkor’s UNESCO-listed heritage, Hindu-Buddhist temples and expanding hospitality sector.

Cambodia welcomed 5.17 million international visitors in the first 11 months of 2025, down 13.8% from the same period a year earlier, the ministry said. Vietnamese tourists topped arrivals with 1.11 million, followed by 1.1 million Chinese, while Thai visitors fell sharply to about 1 million.