Air arrivals soar 23% in 1H17

Passenger arrivals at Cambodia’s three international airports soared 23% YoY in the first half of 2017, reaching 4.2 million people, according to Khek Norida, communications director of Cambodia Airports. He said arrivals at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports in 1H17 grew by 20.3% and 20.7% YoY, respectively, attributing the strong growth to a marked increase in Chinese arrivals, as well as increased visits from other countries in the region. Meanwhile, Sihanoukville’s international airport saw the largest growth in the first semester of the year, with a 221% YoY increase in passenger arrivals, though starting from a low base. The growth followed the addition of several new international connection to the coastal city in the previous months, and the destination has become increasingly popular with both domestic and ASEAN tourists, Norinda explained. Air cargo traffic, on the other hand, also witnessed robust growth, with a 34% YoY increase during the same period, he added. (Source: Phnom Penh Post)