The landscapes, world heritage sites, and hospitality of Cambodia have drawn increasing numbers of visitors in recent years, and at the beginning of 2020 the country was primed to see the continued growth of its tourism sector well into the new decade. Early projections estimated that Cambodia would welcome greater numbers of tourists despite the worldwide economic slowdown, and projected tourism rates were in keeping with the Tourism Ministry’s lofty goal of attracting 11 million tourists annually by 2025.
But the COVID-19 pandemic—though not resulting in any deaths in the kingdom—has dealt a heavy blow to the country’s tourism industry. To overcome the dry spell of travellers this rainy season, the Ministry of Tourism has begun working with partner ministries to incentivise employers and employees in the industry to keep their businesses and trades afloat.
