Angkor packed with neighbours

Siem Reap provincial tourism department estimates visit to the temple complex, Angkor Wat, during the first seven months of 2011 reached 907,463 representing an improvement of 23.23% from 736,371 visits during the same period last year.

The department chief, Ngov Sengkak, said on average there were 5,000 international visitors to the temple daily with the main supply markets being Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan.

“Angkor Wat has a strong potential to attract more tourist arrivals from neigbouring countries like Vietnam, which is now playing an important role in Cambodia’s growing tourism industry,” Mr Sengkak said.

Meanwhile, immigration police chief, Khuy Kry, at Bavet International Checkpoint said there were more than 1,000 Vietnamese entering Cambodia daily. Many of them travel to Angkor Wat as well as Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

For January to June, Vietnamese visits reached 289,736, up 18.48% from 244,535 over the same period last year.

The entrance fees to Angkor Wat are US$20 for international visitors per day, US$40 for a three-day visit, and US$60 for a week visit.

The tourism industry is one of the main industries supporting Cambodia’s economy, which last year received 2,508,289 million visits generating US$1.75 billion in revenue, up 16.03% from 2,161,577 visits earning US$1.56 billion.

The Angkor archeological park is the Cambodia’s largest cultural tourism destination. Located in the northwest of the country, the Khmer architecture is 315 km from the capital Phnom Penh.

The temple was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.

Source - ttrweekly