Ticket sales will benefit Angkor

SIEM REAP Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Economy and Finance says returning Angkor Wat ticket collection to the government will benefit the local economy.
Khmer Times quoted economy and finance minister, Aun Porn Moniroth, saying the ministry would work with the Ministry of Tourism to establish a public administration institution to manage revenue generated by ticket sales at Angkor temples.
“We will create a public institution under the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to manage income from Angkor Wat…we are now working on the procedures and a law to create this institution.”

He added: The income will go to the government to cover expense needed to maintain Angkor Wat and the rest will be used for national projects. We will ensure that revenue management is transparent.”
inside no 4Tourism Minister Thong Khon said the change would not impact on tourists visiting the heritage site as the fees would remain unchanged.
Ticket collection should be transparent, according to Son Chhay, a lawmaker from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.
Cambodia government terminated the contract for ticket sales at Angkor temples with Sokimex Group, 6 November. The group received a concession to manage the temple complex in April 1999. The company runs a nation-wide grid of fuel stations, hotels and resort-style real estate. It is owned by tycoon Sok Kong.
The change will come into effect early next year.
According to APSARA Authority, 1.67 million international tourists visited Angkor temples during the first 10 months of this year, a 2% increase compared to the same period last year.
Ticket sales at Angkor Wat Temple complex reached USD47.68 million in the first 10 months of this year, up 0.62% year-on-year.
In October alone, 153,308 foreign tourists visited Angkor temples up 4.09%. It generated revenue of over USD4.3 million from the Angkor ticket sales, up 4.52% compared with the same period last year.
The entrance fees to the Angkor temples and monuments in Siem Reap costs USD20 for a day visit, USD40 for three days and USD60 for one week.
The park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992 located in Siem Reap province, which lies 315 km northwest of capital Phnom Penh.

sourced:ttrweekly.com