Background
The Ministry of Tourism coordinates national tourism promotion, international marketing, and bilateral outreach to support visitor arrivals and tourism investment.
The Royal Government has scheduled a temporary visa exemption permitting Chinese citizens 14-day stays in Cambodia from 15 June to 15 October 2026.
The Ministry met with TNAOT News leadership to discuss a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation focused on promoting Cambodian destinations, cultural content, and investment opportunities to Chinese and international audiences. TNAOT News reported its use of a bilingual (Khmer-Chinese) media platform and official social channels to distribute tourism documentaries and promotional content aimed at Chinese viewers.
Institutional Role
The planned MoU would formalize cooperation between a government ministry and a private media producer to coordinate promotional activities and events targeting foreign markets, particularly China. During the meeting, the Minister praised TNAOT News for active participation in past promotion efforts and requested continued dissemination of information on political stability, security, and government actions against online crime as part of confidence-building for tourists and investors.
Policy Context
The Ministry described the MoU as complementary to a trial visa-waiver campaign intended to boost arrivals during the green season and to signal openness to Chinese tourists and investors. The government’s temporary waiver allows short-term tourist stays and is explicitly timed to run through the mid-June to mid-October 2026 period to support seasonal demand.
Market Impact
Official figures cited by the Ministry note that Cambodia received about 5.57 million international visitors in 2025, of which more than 1.2 million were Chinese visitors, representing an increase of nearly 42% and placing China as the second-largest source market that year. The Ministry further reported that during the first four months of 2026 Chinese arrivals exceeded 240,000, making China the top source market for that period.
Source
Meeting announcement and details as published by the Ministry of Tourism (Phnom Penh, 12 May 2026) and statements from TNAOT News representatives.
