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The decline in worldwide vacationer arrivals over the previous six months has created challenges for enterprise house owners and distributors in Siem Reap province. On some days, earnings barely cowl bills.
Lately, Angkor Enterprise reported that throughout the first seven months of 2026, the variety of international guests to the Angkor space decreased by 30.79%.
Amid this, home tourism has taken on an essential stance within the sustenance of enterprise for distributors and different enterprise operators within the Angkor space, albeit at a low degree. They are saying that is higher than closing the enterprise and taking over new jobs outdoors their areas of experience, which might make issues much more tough.
Sok Hay, a vendor within the Angkor space since 1993, instructed CamboJA Information that gross sales dropped to zero throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. When clashes erupted alongside the Cambodia-Thailand border on July 24, 2025, native companies confronted a brand new disaster. Within the first seven months of 2026, the state of affairs remained tough because of the low variety of vacationers, though companies continued to function.
Sok Hay, who sells souvenirs and drinks, stated his enterprise now depends closely on home vacationers, who go to in regular numbers. Nonetheless, he does have some international vacationers who go to often, significantly over the previous three weeks.
“We are able to nonetheless make some cash promoting items at Angkor Wat, however there aren’t many individuals strolling across the different temples. Native vacationers nonetheless are available in giant numbers throughout festivals and on weekends however not many international vacationers as a result of that is the inexperienced season.”
He noticed a current improve in home vacationers from provinces equivalent to Pursat, Prey Veng, Kampong Chhnang, and Banteay Meanchey. Conversely, the variety of guests from Phnom Penh, who used to reach in giant teams, has decreased.
“In the course of the Angkor Sankranta competition, earlier than the conflict, we noticed many individuals from Phnom Penh coming. However after the conflict, extra individuals from the provinces began visiting, particularly these from the border provinces. They could have grown bored with the conflict and are available right here to chill out or see the financial state of affairs. Some additionally come to hope and search peace as a result of Angkor Wat is a serious non secular temple. So, whatever the state of affairs, they nonetheless consider coming right here.”
Hay defined that previously seven months, revenue from promoting souvenirs and drinks in Angkor assorted. Some months left him with extra cash, whereas in months with fewer vacationers, bills eradicated any revenue. General, he estimated $400 to $500 revenue left monthly, which was simply sufficient to cowl prices.
“We solely make sufficient to pay for our kids’s schooling, in addition to water and electrical energy payments,” he stated. “As businesspeople, we’re uncertain of what else to do. I’ve been promoting items on this space for nearly 32 years. My household has been engaged on this for the reason that UNTAC [UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia] period. Due to this fact, all we are able to do is deal with enhancing our providers to maintain our enterprise going.”
Home vacationers purchase much less
In the meantime, Pech Marady, proprietor of Varman Angkor Visitor Home, talked about that the variety of international guests dropped sharply, probably 60%, over the previous yr.
She alluded this to the border conflict and stories of on-line scams, equivalent to kidnappings and different crimes, which heightened fears amongst vacationers making them hesitate to go to Cambodia.
The 32-year-old stated though the federal government has launched measures to crack down on on-line scams and different crimes, foreigners would possibly nonetheless be afraid to go to. In consequence, tourism-dependent companies have confronted difficulties, with inns, guesthouses and outlets closing down or altering possession, now not capable of function.
Nonetheless, Marady stated her guesthouse now centered on home vacationers and that she has relationship with tour operators and drivers who convey company to remain on the guesthouse. The value is $15 for a two-bed room and $13 for a one-bed room, each with air-con, she stated. The guesthouse additionally permits a number of individuals to remain in a single room.
“Earlier than the conflict, we made revenue every month. Because the conflict, we’ve solely been incomes sufficient to get by. Even that’s one thing to be pleased about, as a result of should you look across the province, most companies have on the market or hire indicators up, with possession altering arms time and again.”
“With the ability to stay in enterprise to this extent, I believe, is already superb. We nonetheless have steady company. Lately, if we focus solely on international company, we gained’t have the ability to survive. We might positively have to shut.”
Marady stated that July, August, and September see the bottom variety of vacationers and pose the best challenges for revenue due to the wet season. However, she anticipates extra vacationers visiting the Angkor space after September.
In a press launch dated August 1, Angkor Enterprise reported that Cambodia generated over $20 million from ticket gross sales to worldwide guests at Angkor Archaeological Park throughout the first seven months of 2026, down 29.03% from the identical interval in 2025. Throughout this era, the location obtained 428,223 international vacationers, a lower of 30.79%.
Distributors promoting meals, drinks, snacks, clothes, and souvenirs in entrance of Angkor Wat, organized by provincial authorities, are additionally experiencing robust situations. Many are struggling, and a few have even did not cowl their prices. Nonetheless, meals distributors fared considerably higher, significantly on weekends, because of home vacationers.
Toeum Tola has been promoting souvenirs within the Angkor space since she was a baby. For nearly six years, she has run a small store promoting clothes and souvenirs. She stated that her enterprise was higher earlier than the border conflicts. Nonetheless, she stated her gross sales have dropped significantly because of the conflict and a decline in international vacationers throughout the first seven months of 2026.
The 26-year-old, who has been married for 2 years, stated, “Earlier than the conflict, my gross sales had been superb. On some days, I might make a revenue of $30 or extra. However now I solely make 20,000 to 30,000 riel. There are additionally days once I make no gross sales in any respect, particularly Monday to Friday. I solely do properly on Saturday and Sunday, and it’s primarily Cambodians who purchase from me. Foreigners come often, and it’s tough to steer them to come back inside and purchase.”
Relating to her month-to-month revenue earlier than the Cambodia-Thailand border battle, Tola stated she might earn between $700 and $1,000. Nonetheless, throughout the first half of 2026, her earnings had been solely about $200 to $300, and typically even much less, as a result of her principal clients are international vacationers.
She talked about that international clients typically buy a number of clothes units directly, whereas Cambodian consumers usually purchase much less because of the availability of comparable clothes in Cambodia. Nonetheless, Tola stays optimistic. She expects the variety of international vacationers to rise once more in October, particularly in direction of the tip of the yr when extra guests from Europe arrive, “offered Cambodia maintains lasting peace”.
‘If on a regular basis was like right this moment’
Thy Kolin, a espresso vendor outdoors the Angkor space, stated enterprise has been quiet, particularly Monday to Friday. She will promote solely about 100,000 riel of products per day as a result of there aren’t many international vacationers. On Saturdays and Sundays, enterprise is considerably higher, with every day gross sales of between 200,000 and 300,000 riel, though this determine doesn’t embrace bills.
“It has been reasonably quiet currently, and each month it looks like there’s nothing left. We promote, then purchase provides and spend the cash once more.”
Regardless of this, Kolin has no plans to vary her job. “I can maintain transferring ahead as a result of I’ve my very own place and don’t must hire. Though enterprise has been tough over the previous few months, I can nonetheless maintain going. I could make slightly cash left over for household bills. If tourism will increase once more sooner or later, I’ll be comfortable.”
In distinction, a husband and spouse promoting meals at stalls throughout the highway from Tola’s clothes store had been seen busy grilling meat, and making ready rice and dipping sauces for purchasers. In the course of the 2026 Angkor Empire Marathon on August 2, many guests got here to their meals stall.
Phun Serey defined she has been promoting within the Angkor space for over 30 years, however it was solely about six years in the past that she began a meals enterprise on the Angkor Archaeological Park, which is managed by the provincial authorities. She famous that the primary half of 2026 was fairly sluggish, however within the final month or so, she noticed a major rise in guests, together with teams of international vacationers.
“I ready about 4 occasions extra meals than ordinary due to the marathon right this moment, which introduced many vacationers and runners. I offered so much and couldn’t sustain,” Serey stated with a smile.
Her husband, who was grilling hen and fish for ready clients, echoed his spouse, “If we offered as a lot as we did right this moment daily, I wouldn’t know what to do with all the cash! Nevertheless it isn’t like that. Usually, we solely have fairly good gross sales on Saturdays and Sundays, and even then they aren’t as sturdy as right this moment.”
The couple stated they perceive that the present enterprise state of affairs doesn’t provide the identical revenue alternatives as earlier than the conflict. Nonetheless, they each stated they really feel happy when occasions just like the marathon are held there, as the various contributors assist distributors and native companies earn cash to assist their households.
Chinese language tourism to see progress quickly
The eleventh Angkor Empire Marathon came about in entrance of Angkor Wat and drew 6,500 runners, a 25% improve from 2025. Of those, 5,450 had been Cambodian athletes and 1,050 had been worldwide contributors from 51 international locations. China had essentially the most runners, totaling 201, adopted by Japan and the UK, each with 100.
Vath Chamroeun, Secretary-Normal of the Nationwide Olympic Committee of Cambodia and chair of the eleventh Angkor Empire Marathon organising committee, said that the contributors contributed to Siem Reap’s economic system, every spending a minimum of $50.
“In the course of the marathon, about half one million {dollars} was injected into the economic system, supporting lodge and guesthouse house owners, distributors, tour operators, and different small companies in Siem Reap.”
Chamroeun stated the variety of international athletes is predicted to extend subsequent yr, significantly from China, as a result of there can be one every day flight from Yunnan to Siem Reap beginning on the finish of this yr.
“If nothing occurs, subsequent yr we’re making ready to work with the Chinese language ambassador, Wang Wenbin, who will assist promote the occasion, with the objective of reaching 10,000 contributors at subsequent yr’s Angkor Empire Worldwide Marathon. At this stage, we have now to work collectively to draw extra vacationers. We are going to make each effort to assist tourism and our general financial exercise.”
Tourism Minister Huot Hak additionally participated within the marathon the place he lauded the occasion’s success and expressed optimism of drawing extra contributors, particularly worldwide guests. He stated the occasion aimed to spice up Cambodia’s tourism business and assist native companies in Siem Reap, equivalent to inns, guesthouses, distributors, and tour operators, by growing their income.
“Cambodia’s tourism sector is dealing with a major decline in worldwide vacationer arrivals throughout the first half of 2026.”
He acknowledged that the decline was influenced by challenges, together with destructive information, on-line scams, Cambodia-Thailand border points, and tensions and conflict within the Center East, which have pushed up gasoline costs and affected worldwide journey.
“The Royal Authorities of Cambodia has launched intervention measures to assist the personal sector. The partnership between the private and non-private sectors is a necessary drive for turning challenges into alternatives and selling the restoration of the tourism sector.”
