Angkor Wat Tourist Numbers Down by Almost 15% in 2019

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 8:39 pm

Cambodia's Angkor attracts 2.2 mln foreign tourists last year
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 15:47:43|Editor: xuxin

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's famed Angkor Archeological Park received 2.2 million foreign tourists in 2019, down 14.8 percent year-on-year, said a press statement on Wednesday.

The world heritage site made gross revenue of 99 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales last year, down 15 percent year-on-year, said the state-run Angkor Enterprise's statement.

China, the United States, and South Korea remained the biggest sources of foreign arrivals to the ancient park.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo HE said in August that the slump in the number of tourists to the Angkor in northern Siem Reap province should not be a cause for concern because it was the result of a government push to diversify the kingdom's tourism offer.

"This is because we now have many other tourist destinations," he said. "The decline of tourist arrivals in Siem Reap does not mean that fewer tourists visited Cambodia."

According to the Ministry of Tourism's latest report, nearly 5.3 million international visitors came to Cambodia in the first 10 months of 2019, up 9.7 percent over the same period in the previous year.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-0 ... 671215.htm

BR549 · Post by **BR549** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 9:19 pm

People go there once.
It is a one time bucket list item.
People are going to Vietnam in huge numbers.
People are still flocking to Thailand.
They raised the 1 day pass to $37us.
Chinaville is getting the gamblers.

pczz · Post by **pczz** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 12:43 am

BR549 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2020 9:19 pm People go there once.
It is a one time bucket list item.
People are going to Vietnam in huge numbers.
People are still flocking to Thailand.
They raised the 1 day pass to $37us.
Chinaville is getting the gamblers.

They raised the 1 day pass to $37us is the key thing. People used to go to Angkor and then Snooky. Now they have to pay around $70 for a visa and entry to Angkor and snooky has been wrecked so no one wants to go there except chinese gamblers and gangsters. Far fromcreating new tourist destinations Cambodia has destroyed the 2 it had

AndyKK · Post by **AndyKK** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:21 am

BR549 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2020 9:19 pm People go there once.
It is a one time bucket list item.
People are going to Vietnam in huge numbers.
People are still flocking to Thailand.
They raised the 1 day pass to $37us.
Chinaville is getting the gamblers.

Yes I agree that was a bit of a huge price hike from $20 to $37 and that's what the officials looked at, most people will visit once, being one of the main reasons a holiday maker would come to Cambodia, plus the other sights of course, like you quote, Chinese on tour, day at Angkor then off to gamble, one shot at, probably the most visited nationality at this time. Khmers are free so priority in good order, they can come whenever if ever they have the chance.
Angkor Archaeological Park has a lot too offer to a visitor who wants too explore being that there are 51 temples listed. I remember many years ago visiting for the first time, the day started with the sunrise and ended with sunset, and same again on next visits, then it came to the time when we were rushed around too much for the heat of the day, then again my last visit we were back in the hotel pool just after dinner. It wasn't like times before when you arranged your tuk-tuk guide who would expect then to give value for money. I know there are the Small-Circuit and the Grand-Circuit tours, but I think you have too have a bit of luck on your side, of today. That is another cost to add into the day Moto Dop tour being cheaper, but no good for two of you. Tuk-tuk is the way then being that westerners can't ride their own moto in the park, or pushbike that you are allowed to do independently if one should feel inclined.
I would like to go again, but firstly $37 for the day! Then to know your guide may be good or not, and at what price, plus the multitude of Chinese and other tourists getting in the way of your camera shot. Siem Reap I remember looking at the American photographers photos some years back, John McDermott, amazing work.

www.mcdermottgallery.com/gallery/#images

I would like to do the tour around the park more independent on the next visit and not have to rush, so the 7 day ticket at $72 seems more fitting, that is just over $10 per day, so more of a good deal then the cheap days of yesterday.

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:07 am

Not surprisingly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers of foreign visitors to Angkor Wat are sharply down in 2020.

Angkor Resort Receives Only 400,000 Tourists in First Nine Months
AKP Phnom Penh, October 01, 2020 --

Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province welcomed in total 396,241 foreign tourists in the first nine months of this year, earning US$18,456,307.
The figures were shared by the Angkor Enterprise, the state-owned institution in charge of Angkor income management, in a press release made public here this morning.

The number for foreign visitors shows a sharp decrease of 76.17 percent while the income dropped by 75.17 percent compared to the same period last year, it pointed out.

Of the income, it added, more than US$792,482 were donated to Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation to support the humanitarian activities of Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals.

In September alone, the Angkor entrance tickets were sold to 2,948 foreign visitors, generating US$124,296 as income, a year-on-year decline of 97.34 percent and 97.45 percent, respectively.

Moreover, during the first nine months, a total of 8,914 foreign tourists visited Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear province, and some US$89,140 was generated from ticket sales.

Cambodia's tourism sector, like that of other countries around the world, has been being seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Phal Sophanith
AKP