Fears mount that Angkor Wat ticket price hike could deter visitors

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia earned US$62.5 million (S$90.6 million) from ticket sales to Angkor Wat temple complex in 2016, an increase of 4.21 per cent compared with the previous year.

Data released this week by the Angkor Institution, the park’s state-run ticketing agency, showed that 2.19 million foreign tourists visited the site in the southern province of Siem Reap in 2016. The figure represents an increase of 90,000 visitors, who brought in an extra US$2.5 million, from 2015.

Last year was the first since the government took over ticket sales management from a private firm, which had operated it for 17 years.

In August, the Angkor Institution announced that it would nearly double the price of single-day passes for foreigners, and increase the fees for multi-day tickets to Angkor Wat starting in February. The move prompted concerns that it could discourage tourists from visiting the site.

Mr Ho Vandy, secretary-general of the Cambodia National Tourism Alliance, said representatives of the industry have asked the government to consider delaying the price hike.

The new price for a one-day pass will be US$37, up from the current US$20, a three-day ticket goes up to US$62 from the current US$40, and a week-long pass will soon cost US$72, up from the US$60 charged at present.

Mr Vandy said the request was sent to the government late last year, but no reply had been received yet. He added that Siem Riep has not fully realised its potential as a tourist attraction.

“The tourist numbers are increasing, but the rise is quite flat. We want a much bigger increase than this,” he said. “Establishing more tourism products will attract tourists to stay longer, so that other sectors will benefit.”