The Angkor Institute recorded an impressive total of close to 2,000 tickets purchased by tourists to Angkor on Tuesday. The industry has hailed this feat as the onset of recovery for the once-flourishing tourism industry in the Kingdom.
The surge of visitor numbers in the first half of the current year has already witnessed an astounding 36 percent rise. This has translated into ticket sales exceeding $24 million in Angkor.
According to the website of Angkor Enterprise, under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and the financial supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Angkor Pass was bought by foreign tourists totalling 539,137. The figure was for the months between January 1 to July 10 this year.
Angkor Enterprise has been tasked with managing and collecting revenue from ticket sales of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
“If we compare the first semester of 2024 to 2023, the number of international tourists visiting Angkor grew by 36 percent (based on Angkor Entreprise). This is a good sign for recovery,” said Sokhom Sam OL, Executive Director, Siem Reap Tourism Club Association (STC).
Speaking to Khmer Times, Sokhom said, “However, to occupy 30 percent of total available rooms ready to accommodate tourists, Siem Reap will need around 71,000 tourists with an average length of stay of three nights per month.”
The key challenges that require immediate attention by authorities in Siem Reap include product diversification, infrastructure development, and the creation of new attractions, continued Sokhom. Additionally, there is a need to address the rising costs of travel to Siem Reap, as tourists post-Covid expect cheaper travel options, but the increasing travelling cost to Siem Reap is making it more expensive to visit.
Tourism levels of 2019 are very far from the current ones, said Giulio D’Alberto, General Manager, Zannier Hotels, Phum Baitang. “Angkor Wat is a good attraction, but Siem Reap is difficult to reach currently for Europeans who were the ones filling up the ‘Green Season’. It takes 20+ hours to travel with two stopovers, prices are extremely high compared to nearby locations like Bangkok and even flying from Phnom Penh is cheaper and faster, but of course, you will need to then drive to Phnom Penh for five hours,” he explained.
Celebrity social media influencer Laoclassics, a Travel Content Creator felt “the key challenge is changing tourists’ perceptions of Cambodia. Most tourists come to Siem Reap solely for Angkor Wat, unaware of the other attractions available. Effective destination marketing and image branding are needed to highlight the diversity of experiences Siem Reap offers before tourists arrive so they can plan their trips better,” he said.
Cambodia needs a stronger social media presence, according to him. “A dedicated team of social media experts in the tourism department could help increase the reach to a global audience.
Currently, there are no viral Instagram accounts managed by the tourism department, which is a missed opportunity,” he rued.
“My vision for the future of tourism in Siem Reap includes recognition for its iconic Angkor temples and establishing it as a hub of cultural and sustainable tourism,” said Sokhom. It would combine various lifestyles into a single destination, offering alternative options to different types of tourists.
