Expectations are high that tomorrow’s launch of direct flights between Siem Reap and Shenzhen, China by national carrier Air Cambodia will deliver an influx of Chinese tourists to the ancient temples of Angkor Archaeological Park.
According to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), an official launch ceremony for the new route between Shenzhen city and Angkor International Airport will be held on July 18. It will be presided over by Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the SSCA and chairman of Air Cambodia.
Anheng Sokpheak, president of the Cambodia Chinese Tour Guide Association (CCTGA), told The Post on July 17 that the direct flights will encourage more international tourists — especially Chinese nationals — to visit the ancient temples of Siem Reap.
“The more direct flights we have, the more the number of tourists will automatically increase,” he said.Currently, due to the lack of direct flights from China, most Chinese tourists transit through Phnom Penh International Airport before travelling on to Siem Reap.
“The launch of direct flights from Shenzhen to Siem Reap will certainly help Cambodia attract more Chinese tourists, as well as other international visitors, to explore the ancient temples and other tourist attractions throughout the Kingdom,” added Sokpheak.According to him, most Chinese tourists who vacation in Cambodia stay between 5 and 8 days.
“As someone in the tourism sector, I support and welcome the connectivity between major Chinese cities and Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. I hope that more direct flights will be added to make travel easier and more attractive to tourists of all nationalities,” he continued.
Khiev Thy, president of the Angkor Tour Guide Association, said that whenever an airline opens a route to a new destination, it also promotes that destination — helping attract both tourists and investors to Cambodia. However, he noted that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Siem Reap’s ancient temples has not yet increased compared to the same period last year.He remarked that Chinese tourist numbers were significantly higher before the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Thy, one of the reasons Cambodia has struggled to attract more Chinese tourists is because most Chinese travellers prefer luxury, entertainment, high-end shops and higher spending experiences, while Cambodia offers mostly natural and cultural attractions.
“Alongside opening the Siem Reap–Shenzhen flight route, Cambodia should also step up efforts to improve tourist attractions that are popular with Chinese tourists, beyond what is already available,” he suggested.
Currently, most flights landing at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport are from Vietnam, along with a few from Singapore, China and Thailand.
The Siem Reap Provincial Department of Tourism reported that in the first half of 2025, the province welcomed 567,673 international tourists, a rise of 8.76% compared to the same period last year.
Lor Vichet, vice-president of the Cambodia–China Commerce Association (CCCA), highlighted that air routes do more than just bring tourists — they also bring investors and professionals. He stated that expanding flight connections will offer more choices to Chinese tourists and investors, enabling them to explore more investment opportunities in Cambodia.
“Travelling — even for tourism — helps people, including investors, better understand the needs of Cambodian people, whether it’s for local consumption or export products. This encourages them to consider studying the market further or even opening factories and enterprises directly in Cambodia,” he noted.
A report from the SSCA stated that in the first five months of 2025, Cambodia’s three international airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Angkor and Preah Sihanouk) saw improvement in the air transport sector. There were a total of 27,670 flights, an increase of just over 14% compared to the same period in 2024.Passenger arrivals and departures reached 3,042,548, up more than 18%, and air cargo totalled 29,019 tonnes, a 5% increase.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism showed that in the first five months of 2025, Cambodia received 2.95 million international tourists, an 11.7% increase over the same period in 2024. Among them, Chinese tourists numbered 488,973, a 50% increase.
