PHNOM PENH, Nov 18 (NNN-AKP) – The Royal Palace, the most popular tourist spot in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, will reopen for the public from Dec 1, after a closure for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“National and international tourists will be allowed to visit the Royal Palace from Dec 1, 2022, onwards,” Royal Palace Minister, Kong Sam Ol said, in a letter released to the media today.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the beautiful towering spires of the buildings at the Royal Palace, are a great example of classic Khmer architecture found in Cambodia.
Tourists are welcome to visit the Throne Hall (Preah Tineang Tevea Vinichhay), where coronations and official ceremonies take place, the ministry said.
The gardens are beautifully manicured, and buildings on the palace grounds include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Preah Keo Morakot), Stupas, the Royal Dining Hall, the Chan Chhaya Pavilion and a French building that was a gift from Napoleon III, the ministry added.
Among the numerous interesting buildings, within the 183,135-square-metre compound, is the Khemarin Palace, or the “Palace of the Khmer King,” which is the official residence of the present King, Norodom Sihamoni, the ministry said, adding that, the Khemarin Palace is in a protected part of the compound and not opened to the public.
The number of international tourists to Cambodia has increased at a faster-than-expected pace, prompting the kingdom to lift its target to two million tourists for 2022, up from earlier forecast of one million, Tourism Minister, Thong Khon, said.
“Cambodia’s full reopening of its borders to all travellers, high COVID-19 vaccination rates, and tourism development strategies, are key to attracting tourists to the kingdom,” Khon said.– NNN-AKP
