CAMBODIA has seen over 13 percent more tourists during the first seven months of this year, becoming one of five ASEAN countries to see an increase in 2010, according to a Ministry of Tourism report.

Some 1,423,505 tourists entered the Kingdom this year to the end of July, up an annualised 13.85 percent. It joins Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Laos as the only ASEAN countries with tourism figures on the rise, according to Ministry statistics.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said the Kingdom had the potential to become an even larger draw for regional visitors.

“We have the potential of a huge and great culture which can be used to attract an increasing number of tourists in the future,” he said, and announced the 2011 ASEAN Tourism Forum would be held in Phnom Penh in January.

ASEAN was an important destination for foreign tourists, and Cambodia was becoming increasingly attractive for international tourists, he said.

“We will win the competition, and we need to develop the sector as much as we can,” he said.

Minister of the Council of Ministers Sok An said the government places exceptional emphasis on promoting and developing tourism.