Cambodia has reported a 50.6 percent rise in the number of Chinese tourists in the first quarter of 2025, said a Cambodian Ministry of Tourism's report released on Friday.

A total of 286,156 Chinese visitors traveled to the Southeast Asian country during the January-March period of this year, up 50.6 percent from 189,961 over the same period last year, the report said.

The number of Chinese tourists accounted for 15.6 percent of the total 1.83 million international tourist arrivals to Cambodia, the report said, adding that China was the third-biggest source of foreign holidaymakers to the kingdom after Thailand and Vietnam.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said Chinese tourists are vital for Cambodia's tourism industry.

"The current cooperation between Cambodia and China in tourism is promising, with growing numbers of Chinese visitors contributing significantly to our economy," he told Xinhua.

He said designating 2025 as the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism marked a significant step forward in revitalizing bilateral tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

"Chinese tourists have historically played a crucial role in Cambodia's tourism industry, and this initiative aims to stimulate market growth, create employment opportunities, and bolster related sectors amidst global economic uncertainties," Sinan said.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.

The country has four UNESCO-listed world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in central Kampong Thom province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker archaeological site in northwest Preah Vihear province.

Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching about 450 kilometers in the four southwest provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.