Angkor receives 400,000 foreign tourists in Q1 2025

Angkor receives 400,000 foreign tourists in Q1 2025

Angkor Archaeological Park, the most attractive tourism landscape in the Kingdom, has witnessed a significant surge in foreign visitors during the first quarter of 2025.

The park received some 400,000 foreign tourists between January and March of this year, up 15 percent, from 347,534 in the same period last year, according to a report from the Angkor Enterprise overseeing the Angkor Entrance Pass Sales.

The surge in the number of foreign tourists at the famed Angkor temple complex signalled a robust recovery for Cambodia’s tourism sector.

Ministry of Tourism’s Secretary of State and Spokeswoman Hun Dany attributed the surge of foreign tourists to the efforts in promoting tourism and enhancing tourists’ convenience in visiting the country.

“The increase of foreign tourists is a good result of cooperation among the relevant parties between the government and the private sector in promoting potential tourism,” Dany said.

President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents Chhay Sivlin welcomed the positive figures, highlighting several contributing factors including government’s efforts, air connectivity, and enhanced visitor services.

“Increasing number of foreign tourists was due to the government and relevant ministries cooperating with the private sector in beefing up efforts in promoting the tourism sector,” Sivlin said.

Air connectivity, direct flights and implementation of systems such as automatic ticket machines have also contributed to enhancing tourists’ convenience, she added.

She also pointed to the effectiveness of recent promotional campaigns as contributing factors to the increased visitor numbers.

Large crowds of both local and foreign tourists rallied in front of Cambodia’s iconic Angkor Wat temple on March 21-23 to see the stunning sunrise during the spring equinox, according to the APSARA National Authority.

To facilitate tours for international tourists, the government launched the Angkor ticketing system and ticket inspection reform system in January, giving more options to foreign tourists and tour agencies to buy entrance tickets, making it easier for tourists to visit the ancient temples.

The self-service ticketing machine contributes to enhancing visitor convenience, allowing foreign tourists more convenience to purchase tickets quickly and easily, Sivlin added.

Situated in northwest Siem Reap province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

The Park, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1992, is the most popular tourist spot in the Southeast Asian country.

The country’s most popular tourist destination attracted a total of 1.02 million international tourists in 2024, generating a gross revenue of $47.8 million from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.

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