PHNOM PENH - Cambodia is forecast to receive 4.7 million foreign visitors in 2014, an estimated rise of 12 percent from 4.2 million in 2013, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said Wednesday.

Last year, the country's tourism generated $2.5 billion, contributing about 16 percent to the GDP, he said, adding that the sector has created 400,000 direct jobs.

He said Cambodia saw China as a huge market for its tourism.

"Last year, we attracted some 463,000 Chinese visitors, up 39 percent year-on-year," Thong Khon said at the opening of the annual tourism conference.

"We forecast that up to 800,000 Chinese will visit Cambodia in 2015 and nearly 2 million in 2020."

He said flight connections are an essential component to attract foreign tourists to Cambodia, saying that currently, 26 airline companies have been operating regular flights to Cambodia.

Tourism is one of the four main pillars supporting the Cambodian economy.

The Southeast Asian nation is famous for its two world heritage sites. One is the 12th century Angkor Wat Temple and the other is the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple.

Besides, it has a pristine coastline, which is one of the World's Most Beautiful Bays, stretching in the length of 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep.