Angkor Extension

The new Angkor ticket system:

• One-week ticket - $40
• One-month ticket - $60

Source: Ministry of Tourism

MINISTER of Tourism Thong Khon has agreed to a proposal by the private Tourism Working Group to extend Angkor Wat tickets in a bid to attract more tourists, he said on Monday.

Following a recent meeting with the Apsara Authority, the body responsible for Angkor Wat revenues, the minister said the decision had been made to extend the validity of tickets.  

"I support the task force with this proposal ... [it's an] appropriate request," said Thong Khon, adding that the ministry had been thinking over the idea for some time.

Three-day tickets to visit the Unesco World Heritage site - costing US$40 - will now be valid for one week, and week-long tickets can be used at any time for one month at $60 each, the minister said, adding the system would start next week.

But Bun Narith, director general of the Apsara Authority, said he had not yet heard news of a final decision.

"We can offer ... only a one-month visit but not much more than that - [it would be] really hard to manage," he said.

Ho Vandy, co-chair of the Tourism Working Group, welcomed the decision Tuesday, a move he said was necessary to boost the flagging tourism industry - hotels, airlines and Angkor Wat have reported fewer travellers in recent months.  

"If we don't take measures now, we will be too late this year to promote our tourism sector," said Ho Vandy.      

President of the Cambodian Hotel Association, Luu Meng, said the initiative would afford tourists more time to visit Cambodia's most famous attraction, adding it would facilitate tour packages to the Kingdom.