When it launches its new website, Angkor Wat would have increased its ticket prices as well. Tourists will find themselves paying steeper costs to get inside its temples, while Cambodians and all children under 12 years old, whether they be domestic or foreign tourists, will avail tickets for free.
February is seen to be the month when this new policy is implemented, and foreigners will pay as much as 50 percent high than its usual price. A one-day pass it set to $37 from $20, a three-day pass of $62 from $40, and a week-long tour will get one of $72 instead of $60.
According to Phnom Penh Post, Secretary General of the Cambodia Tourism Federation Carrol Sahaidak-Beaver said the high rates would not affect tourist arrivals on the site. "We are not anticipating any negative impact on tourism numbers for either Angkor Wat, the National Museum or Tuol Sleng Museum," she said.
"The prices have been unchanged for 25 years and were overdue for an increase," Sahaidak-Beaver explained. But she did note, however, that it would help all stakeholders adjust to the price if only it announced and implemented earlier.
The prices still do not hamper Cambodia's tourism as the secretary general mentioned that "many tour packages are sold well in advance." "It is difficult to go back and say there has been an increase," she said. "The new price is competitive to what is offered by our neighbors and internationally, and we fully support the increase."
The price increase has been set to follow other hikes around tourist destinations of the country. According to the same report, the ticket price in entering the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh increased to $10, from $6.25.
Meanwhile, although the increases are small in some tourist sites like the National Museum and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the price rose about $2, to $5 from its usual of $3.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
