AKP Phnom Penh, January 21, 2026 --

A direct flight connecting Kampong Som city in Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province with Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province, operated by Cambodia Airways, was officially launched today, the Ministry of Tourism announced.

The inaugural flight departed Sihanouk International Airport at 9:00 a.m. this morning and is scheduled to arrive in Chengdu at 1:30 p.m. (local time). The return flight will depart Chengdu at 2:30 p.m. and land in Kampong Som at 5:20 p.m., according to Cambodia Airways.

The new route will operate three flights per week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the same source said.

Recently, Cambodia announced a pilot visa exemption scheme for Chinese nationals holding passports of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including those from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, excluding Taiwan.

Regardless of whether they travel directly from China or via another country, all PRC passport holders entering the Kingdom of Cambodia will be granted visa exemption and allowed to stay for up to 14 days during a four-month period from June 15 to Oct. 15, 2026, without the need to submit a visa application or pay any fees, provided that travellers complete the electronic Arrival Card (E-Arrival Card).

During the pilot period, Chinese tourists will be permitted to enter Cambodia multiple times without restriction.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia welcomed a total of 1.1 million Chinese tourists in the first 11 months of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 43.5 percent.

Chinese visitors accounted for 21 percent of the 5.17 million international tourist arrivals recorded in the Kingdom between January and November 2025, the ministry added.

By C. Nika