Cambodia: Cambodia recorded an almost 50 percent rise in the number of Chinese tourists during the first nine months of 2024, said a Cambodian Ministry of Tourism's report released on Sunday. A total of 607,542 Chinese visitors traveled to the Southeast Asian country during the January-September period this year, up 49.8 percent from 405,514 over the same period last year, the report said. According to Namibia Press Agency, the number of Chinese tourists accounted for 12.65 percent of the total 4.8 million international tourist arrivals to Cambodia during the first nine months of this year. The report further noted that China was the third biggest source of foreign holidaymakers to the kingdom, following Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak highlighted the significance of the growth in Chinese tourist numbers, stating that it presents an important opportunity not only to boost the development of the tourism sector but also to create investment opportunities in other sectors. He proje cted that Cambodia is set to receive 7 million international tourists, including more than 2 million Chinese tourists, by 2025. Tourism is a crucial component of Cambodia's economy, serving as one of its four pillars alongside the export of garments, footwear, and travel goods, agriculture, and the construction and real estate sectors. In 2023, Cambodia welcomed 5.45 million international tourists, generating a gross revenue of 3.08 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Cambodia is renowned for its four UNESCO-listed world heritage sites, which include the Angkor Archaeological Park in the northwestern Siem Reap province, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in central Kampong Thom province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker Archaeological Site in the northwestern Preah Vihear province.