PHNOM PENH (FN), August 9 – Cambodia Minister of Tourism Thong Khon explained to Fresh News this morning of August 9, 2016 that Cambodia had spent three years to look into the possibility of increasing ticket fees for foreign visitors to the Angkor compound and it would be the first time in 22 years that the ticket fees get increased. Foreign visitors do not mid the increase of the ticket fees anyway, he emphasized.

“Ever since 1993 and that is for 22 years, the ticket fee for each visitor to Angkor was just $22 and the visitor is entitled to visit not only Angkor Wat but also 22 other ancient temples in the Angkor compound. Furthermore, Angkor Wat is a world’s famous tourist attraction and therefore the new ticket fees should be fine” said the Tourism Minister.

The minister also added that foreign tourist agencies were supportive of an increase in the ticket fees for access to Angkor and that the new fees were not high. He said anyway, the income generated would be just like a charity fund since parts of it will go to help supporting orphans and $2 will go to Kantha Bopha children hospital and the rest will be spent on improving the infrastructures in Siem Reap province.

The government has just made a decision on increasing ticket fees for visitors to Angkor compound that will be effective from February 1, 2017. A portion of $2 per ticket will go to support Kantha Bopha children hospital. There are three types of newly-set tickets –1-day visit costing $37; 3-day/3-time visit costing $62 with validity of up to 10 days and 7-day/seven-time visit costing $72 with a validity up to 30 days.
= FRESH NEWS