PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia attracted 1.44 million Chinese visitors during the first nine months of 2018, up 71.2 percent over the same period last year, said a Cambodian Tourism Ministry's report released on Tuesday.

China is the biggest source of foreign tourists to Cambodia, accounting for 28 percent of the total foreign visitors to the kingdom during the January-September period this year, the report said.

The Southeast Asian country welcomed a total of 5.14 million international tourists during the first nine months of this year, up 13.8 percent over the same period last year, it said.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon has predicted that the kingdom would receive at least 1.7 million Chinese holidaymakers this year and up to 2.5 million in 2020.

Cambodia is famous for three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor archaeological park in northwestern Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear temple in northwestern Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site in central Kampong Thom province.

Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep.

Last year, Cambodia got 5.6 million foreign tourists including 1.21 million Chinese, earning gross revenue of 3.6 billion U.S. dollars.