More than 770,000 foreign visitors purchased tickets to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park in the first 10 months of 2024, helping Angkor Enterprise collect nearly $36 million in revenue, an increase of nearly 30 percent for cent compared to the same period in 2023, the company reported.

Data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that in the first nine months of the year, Cambodia received a total of 4.8 million foreign visitors, an increase of 22.2 percent compared to the figures from January to September 2023.

Some industry professionals have pointed to the disparity in Angkor ticket sales compared to total arrivals as an indicator that many international guests are not traditional tourists and may only be visiting border provinces. than by land, possibly to visit casinos.

In 2019, when Cambodia received a record of more than 6.6 million foreign visitors, Angkor Enterprise’s revenue exceeded $80.7 million.

Angkor Enterprise, a public administrative establishment, was created in 2016. Operating under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and the financial supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, it manages the revenues of the Angkor park and the Koh temple. Ker and boat rides in Chong. Port of Kneas.

According to an Angkor press release dated November 1, from January to October, 774,203 foreign visitors purchased tickets to visit Angkor sites, an increase of 28.48 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Revenue collected reached $35.99 million, a growth of 29.07 percent. percent.

Ticket prices for the park are divided into three categories: $37 for a one-day pass, $62 for a three-day pass, and $72 for a seven-day pass.

The statement added that the company also earned $228,675 from 15,245 foreign visitors who purchased tickets to visit the Koh Ker temple complex, and $608,216 from boat ticket sales at Chong Port. Kneas, in the province of Siem Reap.

In an interview with The post office On the morning of November 1, Khiev Thy, president of the Angkor Tourist Guides Association, acknowledged that the number of foreign tourists visiting Siem Reap province had increased compared to last year.

However, he noted that the growth rate is not very high, despite the “peak season” which began about a month ago. In general, the period from the beginning of October to March is considered the peak tourist season for foreign tourists, especially from Europe and North America.

“Although the number of foreign tourists entering Cambodia is high, the number of tourists specifically visiting Siem Reap is not. This may be due to the fact that the global economic situation has not yet fully recovered to pre-2020 levels and the fact that there are even fewer direct flights to Siem Reap compared to the pre-Covid period- 19,” he added.

However, he acknowledged that in November, the influx of foreign tourists to Siem Reap increased, adding that if this trend continues until the end of the high season, it will be very beneficial for tour guides and those who directly or indirectly earn income from the tourism sector. .

“Currently I am doing a boat trip with guests in the Chong Kneas area. In November I have reservations for 25 days and some tour guides are booked for all 30 days. However, for next December, I have only received bookings for just over 10 days so far,” he added.

Chairman of the Cambodia-China Tourist Guides Association (Siem Reap province), An Heng Sokpheak, acknowledged that a reduction in direct international flights to Siem Reap, compared to the pre-pandemic period, as well as a global economy still recovering, geopolitical tensions and conflicts in certain countries have impacted the international tourism sector, which has not yet returned to its pre-2020 level.

He noted that the number of foreign visitors to Cambodia has also not returned to pre-Covid-19 figures.

“The number of foreign tourists in Cambodia has increased compared to three years ago. We expect this growth to continue positively and stronger from the end of 2024. Most foreign tourists visiting Siem Reap temples come from the United States, Europe and the Asian region,” he said. he added.

In 2023, a total of 798,069 foreign tourists purchased tickets to visit Angkor Park, an increase of 177.63 percent compared to 2022. Revenue from ticket sales amounted to a total of 37,198 .988 dollars, an increase of 222.68 percent.

In addition to these revenues, Angkor Enterprise also earned $222,090 from 14,806 visitors to the Koh Ker temple area and $564,671 from boat ticket sales at Chong Kneas Port.