PHNOM PENH, Aug 4 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia’s famed Angkor Archaeological Park, attracted 83,854 foreign tourists in the first seven months of this year, up 13.5 times, compared to the same period last year, said a press statement today.
The ancient site made 3.37 million U.S. dollars in revenue from ticket sales, during the Jan-Jul period, also up 13 folds year-on-year, said the state-owned Angkor Enterprise’s statement.
In Jul alone, the Angkor welcomed 23,871 foreigners, up 52 times compared to the same month last year, it said.
Located in the north-west Siem Reap province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1992, is the most popular tourist destination in the country.
Tourism Minister, Thong Khon said, foreigners, who come to live and work in Cambodia for two years or longer, will be allowed to visit the Angkor free of charge, saying that, the move was to encourage more tourists to the site.
He said, foreign tourists buying a one-day entrance ticket can visit Angkor for two days, while the three-day pass will be increased to five days and the seven-day pass to 10 days of visit.
The entrance fee for a one-day visit to the site is 37 dollars, a three-day visit costs 62 dollars, and a week-long visit costs 72 dollars.
Long Kosal, deputy director-general of the Apsara National Authority, said, Angkor is predicted to attract more tourists in the coming months and years as the COVID-19 pandemic has waned.
“As our country reopened its borders to all travellers without quarantine, I believe that, more international tourists will spend their holidays at Angkor in the near future,” he said.
During the pre-pandemic era, Angkor received up to 2.2 million international visitors in 2019, generating 99 million dollars in revenue from ticket sales, according to the Angkor Enterprise.– NNN-AKP
