Cambodia receives 2.31 mln int'l tourists in 10 months

International tourist arrivals in Cambodia increased 15 percent year-on-year in the first 10 months this year, statistics of the Tourism Ministry showed on Tuesday. From January to October this year, the country received 2.31 million foreign tourists, up 15 percent from 2 million tourists at the same period last year, the report recorded. About 50 percent of the visitors traveled to the country by air, 47 percent by land and the rest by water ways. Vietnam topped the chart among the top 10 arrivals with 516,400 tourists, up 22 percent, followed by South Korea with 273,600, up 19 percent, and Chinese tourists at third up 38 percent to 198,350. During the period, Thai tourists to Cambodia declined by 26 percent to 91,350 due to the two countries' border clashes earlier this year. Meanwhile, some 573,400 Cambodians visited abroad during the period, up 37 percent from 417,200 at the same period last year, the reports said. The tourism industry is one of the major four pillars supporting the Cambodian economy. In 2010, the sector received 2.5 million foreign tourists, generating a total revenue of 1.75 billion U.S. dollars. Enditem