International tourist arrivals soared nearly 18 per cent in the first quarter in this year compared to the same period the year before, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism.

The ministry’s official statistics report showed that Cambodia received 1,172,072 tourists in three-month period, compared with 995,210 last year.

The statistics show that international tourists arrivals through both international airports made up 52.1 per cent, or 611,160 tourists.

Phnom Penh International Airport accounted for 18.6 per cent of arrivals and Siem Reap International Airport had 33.5 per cent.

Arrivals by land made up 45.7 per cent, and arrivals by water constituted 2.1 per cent.

Tourist arrivals in Siem Reap increased 8.6 per cent to 694,729 in 2013, while the Phnom Penh and other destinations’ attracted 477,343 tourists in this three-month period, an increase of 34.3 per cent.

Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said the tourism sector in Cambodia did not have a low-season because the numbers of tourists is high every month.

Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said that numbers of international tourists would drop in the rainy season. But he said foreign tourists are accustomed to the rainy season.

“In the rainy season the views are beautiful and green everywhere and the rainfall is short,” he said. “The weather is not hot. I think if the tourists come in the rainy time, they will feel warm, and accommodation is cheaper than other months.”