Angkor Wat Bags $44 Mil

KHMER TIMES
CHEA VANNAK

Between this January to September 1.56 million foreign visitors bought tickets to enter the Angkor Archaeological Park. Reuters

Cambodia’s famed UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park made a revenue of $44 million during the first nine months of the year from ticket sales to Angkor Wat. This represents a 2.5 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to an official report on Saturday.

The figures, released by state-run Angkor Institution in collaboration with the ministries of tourism and economy and finance, states that from January to September there were a total of 1.56 million foreign visitors who bought tickets to enter the sprawling temple complex. This was a 2.57 percent increase over the same period last year.

In September alone, the institution earned about $3.6 million in revenue from ticket sales, up 4.7 percent compared to the same period last year, while the number of visitors increased by 9.1 percent, the report read.

Chung Sokkhemra, an official at Angkor Institution, declined to provide details of ticket sales which are currently in three categories ‒ one-day, three-day and seven-day passes.

However, he said most ticket sales were for one-day passes.

“[Foreign] tourists are very much interested in visiting Angkor Wat temples and other ancient temples in the park. So ticket sales for one-day passes are in the top category,” said Mr. Sokkhemra.

From next February, the ticket price for foreigners to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park will increase by nearly twofold. The new price of a one-day pass will cost $37, according to an August statement by the Angkor Institution, which is nearly double the present $20 fee.

The three-day pass and weekly pass, now priced at $40 and $60 respectively, will rise to $62 and $72, the statement read. The institution said in the statement that the new price includes a charitable donation of $2 to the Kantha Bopha Foundation that provides medical treatment for poor Cambodian children.

The disclosure of Angkor Wat ticket sales have been made regularly after the government withdrew the rights of managing the park from the Sokimex Group.

Ho Vandy, secretary-general of Cambodia’s National Tourism Alliance, welcomed the frequency of reporting by Angkor Institution. However, he added, more transparency was needed especially with regard to the category of ticket sales.

“We need more details and only then can we make a detailed comparison with other periods. There is still a lack of proper data,” said Mr. Vandy.

Angkor Institute’s Mr. Sokkhemra predicted that the number of tourists visiting the Angkor Archaeological Park would increase from this month to the end of the year ‒ which is peak tourist season for the country.