Angkor ticket sales hit record

SIEM REAP Revenue from ticket sales to foreigners visiting Angkor Wat archaeological park reached a record USD62.5 million in 2016, representing a solid increase of 4.21% over 2015.

Local media quoted state-owned, Angkor Institution, which is in charge of ticket sales at the World Heritage site.

The report also claimed the number of foreign visitors to the World Heritage site rose 4.63% to 2.19 million last year. The top source markets were China, South Korea and the United States.

Angkor Institution official, Chong Sokhemera, was quoted saying one-day tickets were the most popular.

“The one-day ticket was top in sales because most foreign tourists choose to visit the park on their first day in Siem Reap and then travel to other attractions and destinations on the following day.”

Angkor Institute does not provide information on how the USD62.5 million is spent.  Restoration work is supported heavily by foreign aid and grants, although the government allots funds for ongoing projects.

Visitors to the World Heritage site would be interested to know how much of the ticket price is ploughed back into rural community projects that benefit local residents.

While Siem Reap town appears to be prospering from tourism, that is not the case for villages across the province that urgently need to have access to basic public utilities (electricity, water and medical services).

The entrance fee to the Angkor Historical Park costs USD20 a day (foreigners only), USD40 for a three-day visit and USD60 for a week-long visit.

New entrance fees are due to take effect 1 February this year. The new fees are: one-day pass USD37, three-day pass USD62, and seven-day pass USD72.

The Angkor Archeological Park is the top tourist attraction in Cambodia, considerably ahead of the coastal resorts in and around Sihanoukville and ecotourism sites in the northeast part of the country.

The park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992 and is now the country’s largest cultural tourist destination. It is located in Siem Reap province, some 315 km northwest of capital Phnom Penh.