Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

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Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

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Temple price hike criticised
- Business leaders in the tourism sector have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the recent increase in ticket prices for Kampong Thom’s archeological site Sambor Prei Kuk, arguing that the price hike comes too soon after the temples were given word heritage status by Unesco, and have called on the authorities to reverse the move.

The National Authority for Sambor Prei Kuk announced last month that the admission fee for Sambor Prei Kuk will be raised from $3 to $10 for foreigners starting on January 1.

Sambor Prei Kuk, known as Ishanapura in Sanskrit, is the ancient capital of the Chenla Empire. The temple was listed as a Unesco word heritage site in July this year.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA), told Khmer Times that it is too early to raise ticket prices for the temple complex, arguing that the move will hurt tour operators who usually design their tour packages as early as six months in advance and now cannot change their prices to account for the new entrance fee...
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5096123/tem ... riticised/
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

Post by AndyKK »

good move! Out price the visitor.
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

Post by STEVITO »

I visited SPK today. I can't say much as has changed since the last time I visited a few years ago. Therefore hiking the entrance fee is not justified until there are more information boards, toilets etc.
The local community guides also told me they are worried tourist numbers will drop with the new entrance fees. Though I doubt it will happen as they just got UNESCO World Heritage status...
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

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STEVITO wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:56 pm I visited SPK today. I can't say much as has changed since the last time I visited a few years ago. Therefore hiking the entrance fee is not justified until there are more information boards, toilets etc.
The local community guides also told me they are worried tourist numbers will drop with the new entrance fees. Though I doubt it will happen as they just got UNESCO World Heritage status...
I haven't been there, but it seems from what Ive heard it's a sort of smaller/ more wrecked temple complex with just some towers and a funny tree that stand out. It seems like they are trying to cash out before it's even become all that popular. It does get coachloads of Chinese/Korean tours pulling up apparently, maybe some sort of stop off between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh?
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

Post by Anchor Moy »

Thanks for the update.
I was there about nine years ago and we wandered around in the forest finding these ruins everywhere. Quite unreal. It was deserted, except for some families living in the park.
If the extra money went to upkeep of the site,then that would be reasonable. And they could build some toilets. ;)
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

Post by cowyippee »

Anchor Moy wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:55 pm And they could build some toilets. ;)
So true. It's quite sad that many tourist(y) sites in Cambodia haven't equipped with more toilets. But maybe this changes overtime.
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

Post by STEVITO »

John Bingham wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:42 pm
STEVITO wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:56 pm I visited SPK today. I can't say much as has changed since the last time I visited a few years ago. Therefore hiking the entrance fee is not justified until there are more information boards, toilets etc.
The local community guides also told me they are worried tourist numbers will drop with the new entrance fees. Though I doubt it will happen as they just got UNESCO World Heritage status...
I haven't been there, but it seems from what Ive heard it's a sort of smaller/ more wrecked temple complex with just some towers and a funny tree that stand out. It seems like they are trying to cash out before it's even become all that popular. It does get coachloads of Chinese/Korean tours pulling up apparently, maybe some sort of stop off between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh?
Well you summed it up quite well, John!
It's a perfectly pleasant place and you walk around on sandy paths amongst the forest. No busloads of tourists that I've seen. Quite a few Khmer and also a pre-wedding shoot yesterday. If Chinese/Korean groups do stop at the moment they won't in the future. They won't pay $10.
Certainly Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Bayon are more impressive. $10 wouldn't be so bad if they had good signage and toilets. They don't have currently. It makes for a couple of nice hours and as a one-off $10 is ok. I've been there 3 or 4 times before and should I be with people/family visiting in the future I will stay outside and have a cold drink whilst they can go in and do the tour....
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Re: Foreigner ticket prices increase at Sambor Prei Kuk temples

Post by AndyKK »

If Chinese/Korean groups do stop at the moment they won't in the future. They won't pay $10.

I wonder because of how things have been going in the country, if there would be price reductions for tours. Also, the possibility of leasing the small site to Chinese.
Always "hope" but never "expect".
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