More than 2,000 Japanese tourists are due to visit Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat over the coming days using direct charter flights introduced to mark the 50th anniversary of Cambodia-Japan diplomatic relations, a government official said Saturday.

Thong Khon, secretary of state for tourism, told Kyodo News that the first batch of some 200 Japanese tourists arrived in Cambodia on Friday by Kampuchea Airlines, which is affiliated with Bangkok-based Orient Thai Airlines.

The Boeing 757 charter flight, which originally departed from Fukushima, flew the tourists to Siem Reap, the home of Angkor Wat and other ancient temples, via Niigata.

It was the first in a series of direct charter flights from Japan during the anniversary celebrations, which began Saturday and are scheduled to last through Thursday. A total of 2,195 Japanese tourists are expected to take these direct flights.

"The start of such direct flights from Japan to Cambodia will further boost Cambodia's tourism industry," Thong Khon said. "That means Cambodia is now integrated deeper into Japanese markets."