Cambodia tourist arrivals up 54.6%

Cambodia tourist arrivals up 54.6%

PHNOM PENH: Tourist arrivals in Cambodia jumped 54.6 percent in the first six months of the year after a dismal 2003 and despite the regional bird flu crisis earlier in the year, officials said on Thursday.

According to the tourism ministry, arrivals totaled 482,390 over the six-month period, with 11.5 percent coming from South Korea, 10.5 percent from Japan and 9.6 percent from the United States.

The figures show Cambodia is on track to reach one million tourists this year after arrivals plunged 10.9 percent in 2003 to 701,014 due to the regional outbreak of SARS and anti-Thai riots in the capital in January. -- AFP