Cambodia’s famed UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park made a revenue of $44 million during the first nine months of the year from ticket sales to Angkor Wat. This represents a 2.5 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to an official report on Saturday. The figures, released by state-run Angkor Institution in collaboration with the ministries of tourism and economy and finance, states that from January to September there were a total of 1.56 million foreign visitors who bought tickets to enter the sprawling temple complex. This was a 2.57 percent increase over the same period last year.
 

In September alone, the institution earned about $3.6 million in revenue from ticket sales, up 4.7 percent compared to the same period last year, while the number of visitors increased by 9.1 percent, the report read. Chung Sokkhemra, an official at Angkor Institution, declined to provide details of ticket sales which are currently in three categories ‒ one-day, three-day and seven-day passes.
 

However, he said most ticket sales were for one-day passes. “[Foreign] tourists are very much interested in visiting Angkor Wat temples and other ancient temples in the park. So ticket sales for one-day passes are in the top category,” said Mr. Sokkhemra.

 

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-- © Copyright Khmer Times 04/10

And next year they'll be almost doubling the cost of a one day pass (US$20 to US$37), so they'll probably rake in even more money.

 

Until this year, all the money raised went to a private company, and none of it went into the maintenance/restoration of the site.  At least now the government is in charge perhaps some of the money will be used more appropriately, rather than just making one man fabulously wealthy.  And perhaps now they can address the serious backlog of work that needs to be done on the site.  Perhaps they could even employ some security guards so that visitors can see original sculptures, rather than concrete copies - either in the (currently locked) sheds, in a museum, or even better, back in situ.