International tourist arrivals to Cambodia fell nearly 48 percent in the first five months of the year, leaving landmarks such as Angkor Wat noticeably emptier, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Official figures cited by SCMP showed arrivals dropped to 1.54 million between January and May, down from 2.95 million a year earlier. The decline follows border clashes with Thailand, safety concerns, and reputational damage linked to scam compounds operating in the country, the report said.

Akim Ly, founder of Siem Reap-based Adventures Cambodia, said the temple complex was quieter than she had seen it in years, noting that visitors were now more likely to ask about safety than which temple to visit. Land arrivals have fallen sharply since Cambodia and Thailand closed border crossings last year, while air arrivals have declined by a comparatively smaller margin, according to the report.

Neighbouring countries have fared better: Thailand recorded more than 14 million arrivals over the same period, and Vietnam more than 10 million, SCMP reported.

Win Zaw, managing director of Phnom Penh-based Asia Expeditions, said border tensions had disproportionately affected land crossings rather than destinations such as Siem Reap or Koh Kong.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged in March that safety concerns were weighing on tourist numbers, while maintaining that the country remained "fully safe" and pledging to act against scam networks, according to SCMP. The government has since launched a rainy-season tourism campaign and named cyclist Tiv Dararith as a tourism goodwill ambassador.

Industry figures cited in the report said the downturn could be an opportunity to reposition Cambodia beyond its traditional role as a short add-on to regional trips, with some pointing to areas such as Mondulkiri and the Cardamom Mountains as underused tourism assets.

Source: South China Morning Post