I've been in Siem Reap for a couple of weeks. It's pretty quiet. Last month when I was here I went to Angkor Wat, where the ticket selling complex is like a massive airport check-in terminal with 60 something counters. There was hardly anyone there (and I can't imagine how insane it must be during peak season to warrant so many counters).

The weather's been great, mostly sunny and up to 34C, with the rain mainly in short downpours in the afternoon or evening that soon pass over and dry up.

Seems to me the peak tourist season of November to February is somewhat overplayed, and that overseas visitors largely rule out coming here during the rest of the year, based on that.

What could be done to attract more tourists during the wet season? Because it's really not so bad, and tbh it actually has advantages over the peak season such as not battling with crowds. It's a shame to see so many restaurants open with no customers.

I think maybe they could start by targeting the NZ and Australian markets, where it's mid winter and cold, for starters.

Needs to be a way to change the preconceptions of foreign visitors away from the short "tourist season" concept, somehow.

Reduce temple admission charges.

Cambodia is already being flooded with tourists...why is there a need to destroy the somewhat quiet and nice rainy season?

Siem reap isn't really too effected by rainy season due to not being a beach destination and later on in rainy season the floating villages become an attraction. Only difference to high season is the irregularity. One week there's masses of tourists, next week there's none.
Enjoy it while it lasts. By middle of December the town will be cracking full and most places booked out.

shnoukieBRO wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:38 pm Reduce temple admission charges.

Haha well I meant for all of Cambodia, but being in SR it is particularly obvious.

And Angkor Wat admission has continued to grow despite the insane price hikes. Go figure.

Really the point of my post is that a lot of small businesses depend on tourism, but it's needlessly concentrated into a tiny 3 month period when really the weather is not so bad at other times. Sad that people are sitting there waiting for one person to stop and buy a $2 breakfast, wondering if that will be their only customer for the day.

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:28 pmNeeds to be a way to change the preconceptions of foreign visitors away from the short "tourist season" concept, somehow.

In most countries, they have restrictions on when they can take leave, or traditional culture dictates when they can take leave.

They should rather include the local population more with lower prices, relevant menus, etc.

It's also highly possible that the market is saturated, in which case nothing will attract more people except freebies, and those are self-destructive.

that genius wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:52 pm

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:28 pmNeeds to be a way to change the preconceptions of foreign visitors away from the short "tourist season" concept, somehow.

In most countries, they have restrictions on when they can take leave, or traditional culture dictates when they can take leave.

They should rather include the local population more with lower prices, relevant menus, etc.

It's also highly possible that the market is saturated, in which case nothing will attract more people except freebies, and those are self-destructive.

I'd argue that hotel rates are already cheaper in the so-called off season. It's partly the mindset perpetuated by travel guides/websites of Nov-Feb being the time to visit, and possibly a lack of tourism/marketing efforts that lead to so few people coming for 9 months of the year. Having such a marked boom/bust cycle can't be good for anyone but the strongest. I don't think domestic tourism can afford to plug the gap. Is the market saturated? In PP definitely yes, it's set up for that Nov-Feb peak with no idea how to cope with the rest of the year, and that's what I'm trying to address. The whole country would probably benefit if the peak wasn't such a peak, and the low wasn't such a low. Just average it out a bit.

Maybe I should ask 5 hotel guests here "would you have preferred to have come in the peak season?". I bet none of them will say yes.

My wife's mate has been griping about no tourists in SR since at least the New Year. Seems like it's a slow year this year.

Username Taken wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 6:12 pm European summer holidays come up in July / August. I'm sure there would be an increase in tourists during that time. (Not HUGE amounts though).

@hanno would know if that's the case.

Possibly not this year with foreign government warnings regarding the election. Paints the wrong picture.