PHNOM PENH, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has seen a remarkable increase in the number of Chinese tourists to its iconic Angkor Archaeological Park in the first half of 2025, an official report said on Thursday.

A total of 47,571 Chinese tourists visited the UNESCO-listed world heritage site during the January-June period, up 25 percent over the same period last year, said the state-owned Angkor Enterprise's report.

China remained the fourth biggest source of international tourist arrivals to Angkor after the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, it added.

According to the report, a total of 567,673 foreigners from 171 countries and regions toured the ancient park in the first half of this year, generating a gross revenue of 26.3 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that with 2025 being designated as the Cambodia-China Tourism Year, a significant surge in Chinese tourist arrivals to the Angkor Archaeological Park is predicted.

"This increase will likely be driven by enhanced bilateral cooperation, promotional campaigns, and greater accessibility through direct flights and group tour packages," he told Xinhua.

Located in the northwest Siem Reap province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, the kingdom's most popular tourist destination, is home to 91 ancient temples, built from the ninth to the 13th centuries. ■