Siem Reap has experienced a significant uptick in tourist arrivals at the dawn of 2024, with daily figures ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 visitors throughout January, as per the Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Department. The total count for the month hovered between 124,000 and 155,000, encompassing both domestic and international visitors.
The Angkor Wat Archaeological Park, a jewel in Siem Reap’s crown, saw 115,532 individuals purchasing entry tickets, as reported by Angkor Enterprise (AE), the organization responsible for ticket management at the park and other key sites. This resulted in a revenue of nearly $5.5 million from ticket sales, a 49.2 percent rise compared to January 2023.
Additional revenues were garnered from ticket sales at the Koh Ker temple and boat tickets at Chong Kneas, contributing $43,410 and $101,854, respectively. The influx of visitors continued into February, notably during the three-day Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which attracted over 110,000 tourists, including 18,077 from abroad.
While these numbers show a promising recovery, they still fall short of the pre-pandemic levels of January 2019, when ticket sales at the temples alone generated $12.38 million from 271,050 tickets.
Local tourism operators, such as Untac Nem, a Siem Reap-based entrepreneur and tourism expert, have expressed optimism regarding the recent increase in visitor numbers. Nem highlighted the diverse mix of tourists, including Western, domestic, and regional Asian visitors, as well as the notable presence of Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Nem suggested that to sustain and build on this momentum, enhancing connectivity through more affordable, direct flights to Siem Reap and ramping up international marketing efforts are key. He emphasized the importance of a collaborative marketing strategy involving the government, private sector, and local community to showcase Siem Reap’s unique offerings and attract a global audience.
With the right strategies and the allure of Siem Reap’s cultural and historical heritage, there’s a strong potential for the city’s tourism sector to reach new heights in the coming years.
Source: Khmer Times
