Cambodia tourist numbers disappoint

Cambodia's Tourism Minister says the global financial crisis and political protests in Thailand were behind a less than expected rise in tourist numbers in 2008...

In the first half of last year arrivals soared 13 per cent, and the Ministry of Tourism projected continued growth in the second half of the year.

AFP news agency reports official figures, however, show tourist arrivals were up just eight per cent.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon says the global financial crisis affected the forecast.

He also says protests at Bangkok's two main airports in late November had a significant impact, closing a major transit hub to Cambodia for over a week.

Thong Khon says about 31 per cent of tourists enter Cambodia via Thailand.

Altogether, just over two million people visited Cambodia in 2008.

Source: Radio Australia News