ANGKOR Wat ticket sales revenue rose more than 20 percent so far this year to the end of October, compared with the same period last year, the Apsara Authority said yesterday.

Director General Bun Narith would not give exact revenue figures, but said political stability, good security and economic recovery had led to an increase in tourists visiting the temples.

“We have got political stability and we keep tourists safer during their visits, making them very confident to enjoy our country — but  the recovery of the economy also contributed to the growth,” he said.

He told The Post last year that 2009 revenue from ticket sales dropped to around US$27 million from nearly $30 million in 2008.

Bun Narith said most tourists visiting Angkor Wat this year were from the region — hailing from countries such as Vietnam, Singapore and Korea – but the number of tourists from Western countries was growing slowly.

The number of foreign tourists to visit the temple complex rose about 24 percent in the first nine months, to 804,170 from 648,972 tourists, according to official figures from Apsara Authority.

Bun Narith said he hoped revenue would increase by more than 20 percent this year over last year, but added he was not sure whether it could exceed 2008 revenues.

“Now, we are in the dry season, so there will be more Western tourists coming,” he said.

Foreign tourists pay $20 to visit the temples for one day, $40 for three days and $60 for a weeklong visit.

Tourist numbers have been on the rise all year.

In the first nine months of this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting the Kingdom has increased nearly 15 percent compared to the same period of 2009.

A total of 1,803,180 tourists entered the Kingdom via land, air and sea in the first nine months, a 14.6 percent increase on 1,573,940 tourists in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING NGUON SOVAN AND CHUN SOPHAL