Cambodian arrivals to Thailand fell 48% in June due to border closures, weakening a market that had already plateaued since last year. This occurred despite Thai AirAsia reporting high load factors on flights from Bangkok to Cambodia, according to the Bangkok Post.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said Cambodian arrivals to Thailand in the first five months of this year reached over 197,000, a 14% decrease compared to the same period last year, averaging 1,200 visitors per day.

Poipet International Border Check Point, between Cambodia and Thailand. Photo: The Nation

Poipet International Border Check Point, between Cambodia and Thailand. Photo: The Nation

After Thailand closed some border crossings on 7/6 due to escalating tensions between the two countries, Cambodian arrivals dropped 44% compared to when the crossings were fully operational. The decline continued, reaching a low of 81% on 14/6.

In June alone, Cambodian arrivals to Thailand decreased 48% to nearly 15,000. Of these, 48% traveled by air, while 52% entered through land border crossings.

In 2024, Thailand welcomed over 553,000 Cambodian visitors, averaging around 1,500 per day. Before the June border conflict, visitor numbers had already shown signs of decline. According to the TAT, the main reason was the general economic situation, which reduced demand for outbound tourism.

Kiatphaibool said the recent border tensions have not severely impacted the overall Thai tourism sector. However, TAT offices in provinces bordering Cambodia, such as Surin, Sa Kaeo, and Trat, are closely monitoring the situation. Ubon Ratchathani province reported a slight impact at some attractions during the first week of the border tensions, as security concerns led many visitors to postpone their trips.

The affected areas include Phu Prasat Historical Park, located in Nam Yuen district, part of the Yod Dom Wildlife Sanctuary, near the Chong An Ma border crossing with Cambodia.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool of the TAT office in Ho Chi Minh City, which is responsible for the Cambodian market, said tourism promotion campaigns planned with the Thai embassy and airlines between June and August have been temporarily suspended.

The TAT noted that Thai tourism to Cambodia has been locally affected in some border areas following the conflict in early June. In the Aranyaprathet area of Sa Kaeo province, many hotels reported a decline in occupancy rates due to travel restrictions. The main reason is the disruption of Thai travelers who regularly cross the Ban Khlong Luek border crossing into Cambodia.

Earlier, the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism reported nearly 2.4 million international tourist arrivals in the first four months of 2025, a 13.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Thailand topped the list of international tourist markets to Cambodia, with over 674,000 visitors.

Bich Phuong (Bangkok Post, Nationthailand, Khmerpost Asia)