^{Photo: Al Jazeera}

Cambodia’s tourism sector continues to reel from a combination of geopolitical tensions and its growing reputation as a hub for cybercrime scams, as the government ramps up enforcement measures to restore confidence among international travelers.

Tourism, once a pillar of the Cambodian economy, accounted for just 9.4% of gross domestic product in 2024, down from 12.1% in 2019. The Ministry of Tourism reported a 20% year-on-year drop in visitors from the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, underscoring the sector’s steep decline.

Scam hub stigma and international scrutiny

Reports have increasingly linked Cambodia to transnational scam centers, with profits allegedly tied to political elites, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The negative publicity has weighed heavily on tourism from countries in East Asia, where awareness of the scam operations is higher than in Europe or the U.S.

The issue gained global attention after the death of a South Korean student lured into a scam compound and reportedly tortured, prompting Seoul to impose its highest-level travel warning to parts of Cambodia in October 2025. Thailand, facing ongoing border tensions with Cambodia, saw over a 50% drop in visitors to the country. South Korean arrivals fell 20.6% over the year.

Chinese tourism bucked the overall downward trend, rising 41.5% in December 2025, but still remained below pre-pandemic levels. China has publicly pressed Cambodia to crack down on scam hubs, warning that its reputation could harm bilateral relations.

Arrests and crackdown on cybercrime operations

In response, Cambodian authorities have intensified efforts against illicit operations. More than 2,000 arrests have been made in connection with scam centers, according to the Ministry of Interior. Among the high-profile actions, Chen Zhi, a major alleged scam kingpin, was extradited to China in early January.

The government has also partnered with South Korea since November 2025 to address transnational fraud. Following these actions, Seoul adjusted its travel warning for Cambodia downward in December, easing some restrictions.

Tourism recovery measures

Cambodia has introduced incentives to attract visitors, including a visa exemption trial for Chinese citizens between June 15 and October 15. Officials hope these combined measures—crackdowns on criminal activity, improved safety, and diplomatic cooperation—will gradually repair the country’s tarnished tourism image.

“People feel unsafe about coming to Cambodia, so as they shut down that scam industry, reputational issues should ease over time,” said Stephen Higgins, managing partner at Mekong Strategic Capital. “It won’t happen overnight, but over time, we should see growth in tourism numbers returning to pre-crisis levels.”

Despite these efforts, the tourism sector faces a challenging road ahead, balancing diplomatic pressures, regional security concerns, and the lingering effects of a reputation tarnished by criminal networks. The coming months will be critical for Cambodia to demonstrate tangible improvements to regain confidence among international travelers.

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