Cambodia opens new airport near Angkor Wat amid low tourism numbers

[geovalin]

The airport in Siem Reap province was constructed by Chinese companies as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

Cambodian officials on Monday unveiled a US$1.1 billion airport near the famed Angkor temples – built by Chinese state-owned companies as part of the Belt and Road Initiative –even as tourist numbers continue to drop. 

 

The first commercial flight into the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport landed from Thailand as Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Visoth praised China at a ceremony Monday.

 

This is “an historical achievement which shows the fruitful will in ironclad cooperation between China and Cambodia,” he said.

The airport is designed to be a cargo hub and transportation hub, with direct international flights, and a potential capacity of 7 million passengers a year, the Khmer Times reported.

 

It’s located 55 km (34 miles) southeast of Siem Reap town and the nearby Angkor temple complex, whereas the previous, much smaller airport was only about 8 km (5 miles) outside Siem Reap’s center. 

Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is located 55 km (34 miles) from Siem Reap town and the nearby Angkor temple complex. Credit: Screenshot from video/Facebook/Hun Manet
 

Tourism has been a main pillar of the Cambodian economy, but the number of visitors to the 12th century temples has fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

There are currently between 1,000 to 1,500 visitors per day, Ministry of Tourism spokesman Top Sopheak told Radio Free Asia. Before the pandemic, there were between 8,000 to 9,000 visitors each day, he said.

 

The new airport could help revive those numbers, he said.  

“The Ministry of Tourism has not been silent; it has made great efforts,” Top Sopheak said. 

 

Tourism bookings remain low

But there continues to be evidence of a general decline in the economy in the province’s rural areas and in Siem Reap town, which is home to numerous luxury hotels and smaller guesthouses, all catering to tourists. 

 

Some supermarkets and hotels have closed down since 2020, putting thousands of people out of work, according to tourism operator Ang Charles. And almost every street in Siem Reap town has “for sale” signs affixed to homes, cars or plots of land, he said.

Siem Reap Angkor International Airport was built by three Chinese state-owned companies as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Credit: Screenshot from video/Facebook/Hun Manet
 

During the recent Pchum Ben festival, there was a noticeable lack of spending, and bookings for other upcoming holidays are way down, he said. 

“There are not many people on the streets,” he told RFA. 

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Manet flew from Phnom Penh to Beijing on Monday to attend The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will include world leaders and representatives from 90 countries.

 

The conference will discuss the initiative, which began a decade ago as a way for Beijing to boost trade ties, secure energy supplies and invest in global infrastructure around the world. 

But China has also been accused of “debt diplomacy” – trapping nations with financial liabilities for major infrastructure projects they can ill-afford.

Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is designed to be a cargo and transportation hub with direct international flights, the Khmer Times reports. Credit: Screenshot from video/Facebook/Hun Manet
 

In Siem Reap, the Chinese state-owned Yunnan Investment Group has been given the rights to the new airport for 55 years and is also spending $95 million on a 24 km (15 miles) expressway project that will connect the airport to the rest of the country.

 

A larger surrounding area has been set aside as a special economic zone, Cambodian officials said.

Other BRI projects in Cambodia include the Lower Sesan 2 Dam in Stung Treng province, the construction of the new Phnom Penh International Airport in Kandal province, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway and the Moradok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh.

An official inauguration ceremony for the new Siem Reap airport is planned for next month, with Hun Manet in attendance.

 

 

Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/new-angkor-airport-10162023170450.html

 

Copyright © 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

[Nid_Noi]

Things are not improving in Siem Reap. I was there mid-February 2025 and the hotels were empty, hardly a dozen people in the swimming pool.

Not many people visiting the temples.

It seems most people are part of tour groups arriving for one day visit and leaving the next morning. Restaurants and stores are empty.

We were the only aircraft on the tarmac when we arrived from Bangkok. Only half-a dozen arrivals and departures for the whole day.

Sad to see some beautiful hotels without clients.

Maybe Cambodia should start avoiding charging people heavy fees in US$ and should allow land ownership to foreigners.

[Nid_Noi]

Just wanted to add that you need to carry your luggages into a special room when checking for departure. Luggages are open and checked for eventual forbidden items.

It seems that no scanners have been installed making the checking process long and tedious.

[Scouse123]

I just come back and know a lot of people down there.

 

I was unaware of the luggage checks as we drove to the border, then took a taxi from Chong Chom / O Smach.

 

My hotel was busy, but the town itself was not.

 

I stayed at Koulen Central hotel

 

The tuk tuk drivers told me trade was abysmal.

[hotandsticky]

Hun Sen certainly seems to have gone all in with the Chinese...

 

 

I am fairly confident they won't screw it up like Sihanoukeville.

[Scouse123]

On 3/17/2025 at 2:33 PM, Nid_Noi said:

 

Maybe Cambodia should start avoiding charging people heavy fees in US$ and should allow land ownership to foreigners.

 

What heavy fees??

 

Land ownership seems to be a bug bear for foreigners in all SE Asia.

[Scouse123]

On 3/17/2025 at 7:58 PM, hotandsticky said:

Hun Sen certainly seems to have gone all in with the Chinese...

 

 

I am fairly confident they won't screw it up like Sihanoukeville.

 

Sihanoukville is ruined for the foreseeable future as a result of allowing the Chinese unfettered access.

[Yolando]

The problem with Angkor Wat is that once you've been there, there is no reason to ever go back.  Cambodia would be better off focusing on improving access to their beach destinations which could attract repeat visitors.

[Scouse123]

14 minutes ago, Yolando said:

The problem with Angkor Wat is that once you've been there, there is no reason to ever go back.  Cambodia would be better off focusing on improving access to their beach destinations which could attract repeat visitors.

 

Their main beach destination has been Sihanoukville which was overrun b y Chinese Mafia and is now a slum with multi unfinished building projects. The resort is a complete mess.

 

Yes, once you've done Angkor Wat, that is it. I often go as I like the town, and it's a break from Thailand.

 

There are, of course, Koh Rong, Kampot and Kep, but Cambodia doesn't offer enough to hold tourists for long stays.

 

There are long stay foreigners who can't afford Thailand with the costs required for retirement extensions etc down there,

[zzzzz]

"There are long stay foreigners who can't afford Thailand with the costs required for retirement extensions etc down there,"

Long stay in Cambodia $300/year  no money in bank
long stay in Thailand ( Pattaya) 12,500 baht ( $367) no money in bank thru an agent

I spent 16 months ( June 2022-nov 2023) in Kep>
I am far happier in Phuket and as most things in Cambodia are more expensive its cheaper

 

To each their own

[hotandsticky]

4 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Sihanoukville is ruined for the foreseeable future as a result of allowing the Chinese unfettered access.

 

 

Entirely my point........my hope is that they won't do the same to Siem Reap. I am fairly confident that they won't because SR is more international.

[JimHuaHin]

New China-built airport in western Cambodia - built to ease the movement of the Chinese PLA into western Cambodia, before they move into China and Laos.

[it is what it is]

4 hours ago, Yolando said:

The problem with Angkor Wat is that once you've been there, there is no reason to ever go back.  Cambodia would be better off focusing on improving access to their beach destinations which could attract repeat visitors.

 

i've been three times 😁

[it is what it is]

30 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

"There are long stay foreigners who can't afford Thailand with the costs required for retirement extensions etc down there,"

Long stay in Cambodia $300/year  no money in bank
long stay in Thailand ( Pattaya) 12,500 baht ( $367) no money in bank thru an agent

I spent 16 months ( June 2022-nov 2023) in Kep>
I am far happier in Phuket and as most things in Cambodia are more expensive its cheaper

 

To each their own

 

long stay in Thailand ( Pattaya) 12,500 baht ( $367) no money in bank thru an agent

 

is that legal? should you be here if you can't even meet the basic requirements and/or afford to be here?

[hotandsticky]

4 hours ago, Yolando said:

The problem with Angkor Wat is that once you've been there, there is no reason to ever go back.  Cambodia would be better off focusing on improving access to their beach destinations which could attract repeat visitors.

 

 

2.5 million visitors may disagree.

 

I have been to Cambodia over 30 times and most of those visits have included Siem Reap. I have visited the temples perhaps a dozen times and it is always a pleasant experience. I would agree that after 2/3 visits you have seen as much as you need to see - and unless you are a temple addict the short circuit is sufficient. The increase in entry fee from $20 to $37 is also a deterrent.