Coastal economy rises on tourist tide

Preah Sihanouk province welcomed nearly 2.4 million tourists in 2016, generating $96 million in revenue, following a significant rise in domestic and international tourist arrivals, a tourism official said yesterday. Overall arrivals to the coastal province grew by 37 percent last year compared to 2015, according to May Nimol, deputy director of marketing and promotions at Preah Sihanouk’s provincial tourism department. The growth was driven by a sharp uptake in domestic tourism, with the number of visitors from other Cambodian provinces surging 45 percent last year to reach 1,974,631. International tourist arrivals increased 12 percent last year to reach 404,939, led by visitors from China, Russia and Vietnam, he added.

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