Siem Reap’s New Direct Flights From Shenzhen Boost Chinese Tourism, Investment, And Growth In Cambodia

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Aid Site Connection: Siem Reap, location of Cambodia’s ancient temples and 1 of Southeast Asia’s apical tourism centers, is expected to person a windfall of accrued tourism and investment. Direct flights betwixt Shenzhen, China and Siem Reap from July 18, 2025, by Air Cambodia are besides expected to beryllium a important facet down an summation successful nan number of Chinese visitors visiting nan region. This caller formation way will – not only amended entree to nan world renowned Angkor Archeological Park – but besides go a hub to beforehand commerce and waste and acquisition successful Cambodia.

It is simply a important time for nan Cambodian tourism assemblage arsenic these nonstop flights commence. The arena is going to beryllium celebrated by nan Civil Aviation Authority of nan State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), wherever apical officials of nan authorities would beryllium present. [7] [8] The strategy is to easiness recreation and nan short transit astatine different world airports (e.g., astatine Phnom Penh) to make Siem Reap nan gateway for Chinese tourists.

Growing Demand for Direct Connectivity to Siem Reap

Anheng Sokpheak, President of nan Cambodia Chinese Tour Guide Association, emphasizes that this caller way will importantly summation nan number of Chinese visitors to Cambodia’s taste landmarks, particularly nan Angkor temples. “The much nonstop flights we have, nan much nan number of visitors will automatically increase,” Sokpheak said. Currently, astir Chinese visitors recreation to Siem Reap done connecting flights via Phnom Penh, which often deters spontaneous recreation plans owed to added transit time.

The preamble of nonstop flights from Shenzhen is anticipated to trim recreation clip and summation convenience, encouraging much Chinese nationals to sojourn Siem Reap’s historical sites. With China’s increasing mediate people and nan expanding liking successful taste tourism, nan caller formation way is seen arsenic an important measurement successful nan broader effort to revitalize Cambodia’s tourism assemblage post-pandemic.

Enhancing Siem Reap’s Appeal to Chinese Tourists

Khiev Thy, President of nan Angkor Tour Guide Association, echoes nan sentiment that nonstop flights thief to beforehand nan destination globally. “Whenever an hose opens a way to a caller destination, it besides promotes that destination,” he said. However, Thy besides pointed retired that nan number of Chinese visitors visiting Siem Reap has not seen important maturation compared to nan erstwhile year, mostly owed to differing preferences successful leisure activities. Chinese visitors thin to favour luxury shopping, high-end entertainment, and shopping experiences, areas wherever Cambodia’s tourism offerings are presently limited.

In response, manufacture experts propose that while nan nonstop formation way to Shenzhen is simply a measurement forward, Cambodia must besides attraction connected diversifying its tourism products to cater to nan increasing expectations of Chinese travelers. This whitethorn impact nan improvement of luxury accommodations, intermezo facilities, and different high-end tourism infrastructure that entreaty to nan able Chinese tourer demographic.

Siem Reap’s Tourism Growth and Economic Potential

The Cambodian authorities is placing a precocious privilege connected processing Siem Reap arsenic a world tourer destination. In nan first half of 2025, Siem Reap welcomed complete 567,000 world visitors, marking an 8.76% summation complete nan aforesaid play past year. This maturation is attributed to nan gradual betterment of nan world recreation manufacture and nan ongoing efforts to beforehand Cambodia’s rich | taste heritage, which includes nan iconic Angkor Wat temples.

Lor Vichet, Vice-President of nan Cambodia-China Commerce Association, besides sees this caller formation way arsenic a measurement to pull much world investors, alongside nan tourists. “Traveling — moreover for tourism — helps people, including investors, amended understand nan needs of Cambodian people, whether it’s for section depletion aliases export products,” Vichet explains. The preamble of nonstop flights allows Chinese investors and professionals to amended measure nan section market, perchance encouraging them to research further finance opportunities successful sectors specified arsenic manufacturing, hospitality, and infrastructure.

Boosting Air Traffic and Economic Activity

According to nan SSCA, Cambodia’s aerial carrier assemblage is connected a coagulated maturation trajectory, pinch nan number of flights and rider arrivals steadily increasing. In nan first 5 months of 2025, Cambodia’s world airports saw complete 27,670 flights, representing a 14% summation from nan aforesaid play successful 2024. The number of passengers reached complete 3 million, marking an 18% summation year-on-year. These developments item nan increasing request for aerial recreation to Cambodia, particularly from world markets for illustration China.

The preamble of nonstop flights to Siem Reap is expected to further lend to this trend. As rider numbers proceed to rise, nan influx of Chinese visitors will stimulate nan section economy, creating caller occupation opportunities successful sectors for illustration tourism, hospitality, and services. The authorities anticipates that nan caller aerial way will not only lend to tourism maturation but will besides foster cross-border waste and acquisition and business collaborations betwixt Cambodia and China.

The Way Forward: Expanding Cambodia’s Global Connectivity

Looking ahead, nan Cambodian authorities is focused connected expanding its world connectivity. The motorboat of nan Shenzhen-Siem Reap way is conscionable 1 portion of a broader effort to heighten aerial links betwixt Cambodia and cardinal world markets. In summation to expanding formation frequency, location is simply a concerted push to create infrastructure that supports some tourism and business growth.

As Cambodia continues to turn arsenic a world tourism hub, it is apt that we will spot much nonstop formation routes to awesome cities crossed Asia and beyond. This description will not only boost tourism numbers but besides supply opportunities for section entrepreneurs and communities to thrive. The government’s committedness to improving tourer attractions, offering a assortment of experiences, and fostering economical improvement done improved aerial connectivity will guarantee that Cambodia remains a premier destination for some travelers and investors alike.

Conclusion: A New Chapter for Siem Reap’s Tourism Industry

The motorboat of nonstop flights from Shenzhen to Siem Reap is an breathtaking improvement for Cambodia’s tourism sector, offering a caller avenue for growth, taste exchange, and economical development. With enhanced accessibility, nan ancient temples of Angkor and nan vibrant section system are group to spot greater attraction from Chinese visitors and world investors. By continuing to grow its infrastructure and diversify tourism offerings, Siem Reap is good connected its measurement to becoming an moreover much salient destination connected nan world recreation map.