Hospitality & Tourism

Angkor Wat Retains Status As Global Tourist Attraction - International Visitor Numbers Still Lag Behind Pre-Pandemic Levels

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Angkor Wat Retains Status As Global Tourist Attraction - International Visitor Numbers Still Lag Behind Pre-Pandemic Levels

Cambodia's iconic Angkor Wat was ranked as the 12th best tourist attraction in the world by TripAdvisor's Traveler Choice Awards 2024 as the latest tourism data confirms that more than half a million international tourists are reported to have visited the site in the first half of 2024.

TripAdvisor said online that “Angkor Wat is a world wonder and it's not hard to see why. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site and admire its architecture and intricate carvings. Many people visit at sunrise, so make sure to set your alarm to snag a spot. The guided tour is also worthwhile as you'll hear the stories and significance behind the landmark.”

These lists are always contentious and several peculiar sites are mentioned on the list, but nonetheless, the accolade has been promoted by the Cambodian Prime Minister and the Ministry of Tourism, which added, “The ancient temple amazes travellers from around the world with its magnificent architecture, luxurious sculptures and rich history.”

The 401-square-kilometre park located close to popular tourist destination Siem Reap, is home to 91 ancient temples, built between the 9th to the 13th centuries. Siem Reap is heavily reliant on tourism and several hotels are regular winners of regional and international recognition in the city.

2024 - Angkor Wat Tourism Numbers

By some distance, the most popular tourist destination in Cambodia, Angkor Archaeological Park attracted 521,950 international visitors in the first six months of 2024 generating USD $24.35 million in ticket sales.

Although the data (reported by the state-owned Angkor Enterprise) suggests a nearly 40 per cent increase compared to 2023 numbers, a lot of news was also hyped up in 2023 for numbers increasing as much as 200 per cent compared to 2022.

The visitor numbers should be increasing and be much higher due to the post-pandemic recovery. In total, 798,069 foreign visitors bought entrance passes to the Angkor Archaeological Park in 2023 (an increase of 177.6 per cent compared to the numbers of 2022).

If compared to the record-breaking 2019 data, the numbers make for a somewhat more sombre reading, as that year, more than 2.2 million foreign visitors generated more than USD $90 million in ticket sales.

  • 2019 (record year) -  2.2 million foreign visitors (6.6 million total visitors)
  • 2022 -  287,454
  • 2023 - 798,069 
  • 2024 (first half) - 521,950 

Angkor Archaeological Park Ticket Prices

It should also be noted that since September 2022, foreign visitors and investors who have resided in Cambodia for more than two years are eligible for free passes to visit Angkor Archaeological Park (Angkor Special Pass) which maybe also may have impacted numbers. Cambodian citizens can visit the park for free.

For those buying tickets to the Angkor Archaeological Park, a one-day pass is USD 37, a three-day pass is USD $62, and a seven-day pass costs USD $72
 

Cambodia Tourism News 2024