PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Wednesday that his country earned US$3 billion (97 billion baht) last year from the booming tourism sector.
Hun Sen said in 2014, Cambodia received 4.5 million inbound tourists, an increase of 5.9% compared to 2013, and $3 billion in revenue.
The premier said the tourism sector is not only a socio-economic sector that helps sustain economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty, but is also considered an important sector that supports regional integration.
Hun Sen, however, assured that Cambodia remains committed to further developing into a "culture and nature" tourism destination.
Tourists walk past the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Wednesday. Cambodia received 4.5 million foreign visitors last year. (AFP photo)
According to statistics provided by the Siem Reap provincial tourism department, 2.3 million foreign tourists visited Siem Reap province last year. Siem Reap is home to the Angkor Wat temple complex.
South Koreans topped the list of tourist arrivals at 347,962, followed closely by Chinese at 338,496 and Japanese at 150,934.
Cambodia expects the number of inbound tourists to reach 5 million in 2015 and 7.5 million by 2020, by which time the tourism sector is expected to generate revenues of $5 billion and provide at least 80,000 jobs.