Arrivals at Cambodia’s two biggest airports increased by about 20 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2012, according to Cambodia Airports.

Industry insiders said economic progress in the region coupled with increased flights added to the passenger count at Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport, which saw increases of 14 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.

The two airports counted 608,281 arrivals during the first quarter, up from 505,318 during the same period last year. International arrivals rose by about 27 per cent during the period.

“The improvement in the Asia-Pacific economy also contributed to the growth. We noticed a lot of tourists from these countries where there is a large number of middle class people,” Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said.

About 1.84 million tourists from ASEAN and East Asian countries visited Cambodia in 2011, or 69 per cent of total incoming tourists, ministry data showed.

Ho Vandy, co-chair of Cambodia’s Tourism Working Group, said airlines have boosted flights on increased demand.

“I noticed that some existing airlines are increasing the number of flights because they have an increase in number of passengers to our country.”

Figures from Cambodia Airports also showed that the amount of cargo passing through Phnom Penh International Airport rose by about 30 per cent, while domestic cargo through Siem Reap International Airport rose by 91.17 per cent.

To contact the reporter on this story: May Kunmakara at [email protected]