Charming Jiangsu, Colorful Cambodia: Cultural Highlights from the 2025 Tourism Year Launch
China-Cambodia Year of Tourism 2025 is a significant bilateral initiative aimed at strengthening tourism and cultural ties between the two nations. This program was officially launched in Phnom Penh on May 23, 2025, following an agreement made during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cambodia in April 2025.
Launch Events and Activities
The opening ceremony featured a joint cultural performance titled “Charming Jiangsu, Colorful Cambodia” at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall. Subsequent public events included street art performances, martial arts shows, culinary festivals, and film screenings along Phnom Penh’s riverside “Walking Street” from May 24–25.
Tourism Growth and Economic Impact
In the first four months of 2025, Cambodia welcomed over 2.4 million international tourists, marking a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, more than 380,000 Chinese tourists visited Cambodia during this period, representing a 49% year-on-year increase.
The initiative is expected to further boost tourism, with projections indicating that international tourist arrivals to Cambodia could reach between 7.2 and 7.5 million in 2025.
Strategic Significance
The China-Cambodia Year of Tourism aligns with broader strategic goals, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework. It serves to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and foster people-to-people exchanges.
