Cambodia will pilot a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens from June 15 to Oct 15, 2026, according to an official government document issued on Dec 2.

The announcement sparked an immediate rise in travel interest, with flight searches to Cambodia climbing across major Chinese travel platforms.

On Qunar, searches for flights to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap rose sharply within hours of the announcement.

Routes from Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen to Phnom Penh jumped by 5.2, 4.3, and 3 times compared with an hour before the news was released.

Trip.com also reported a 20 percent increase in Cambodia-related keyword searches.

Cambodia's rich cultural heritage, including Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, has long made the country a favorite destination for Chinese tourists. Official data show that from Jan to Oct this year, Cambodia welcomed about one million Chinese visitors.

Since November, hotel bookings by Chinese travelers in Phnom Penh have risen 60 percent year-on-year, and flight reservations between the two countries have grown by more than 40 percent on Tongcheng Travel.

Source: Shanghai Observer