PHNOM PENH, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia welcomed some 1.27 million international visitors in the first three months of 2014, an 8 percent rise from 1.17 million recorded the same period last year, official data showed Monday.
During the January-March period, Vietnam topped the chart among the top ten markets of tourists to Cambodia with 189,800 tourists, up 4 percent as compared with the same period last year, followed by South Korea with 177,700, up 10 percent, and China with 162,900, up 18 percent.
Laos ranked the fourth with 99,000 tourists to Cambodia, up 7 percent, while Japan ranked the fifth with 66,900, up 12 percent.
The Southeast Asian nation is renowned for two cultural sites on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. One is the 12th century Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap province and the other is the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple in Preah Vihear province.
In addition, it has a pristine coastline, which is one of the World's Most Beautiful Bays, stretching over 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong.
Tourism is one of the four sectors supporting the economy. Tourism Minister Thong Khon has said that the country received 4.2 million foreigners in 2013, earning 2.5 billion U.S. dollars.
He predicted that the country is expected to greet 4.7 million international visitors this year.