Changes at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat

As of Feb. 1, travelers to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat pay almost double the previous admission fee.

Millions of visitors flock to the sprawling temple complex, making it one of the top tourist attractions in Cambodia. Almost half of all visitors to the country stop in Angkor Wat to explore the temples built between 900 and 1200 AD by the ancient kings of the Khmer Empire. The fee covers access to all 72 of the temples on site.

The one-day pass is now $37, up from $20. A three-day ticket has gone up from $40 to $62, while a seven-day pass is now $72, up from $60. The decision to increase ticket prices was mandated by the government and met with complaints by tour companies, who said the drastic increase may deter visitors.

The price increase is the first for the UNESCO Heritage Site in 25 years.

Carrol Sahaidak-Beaver of the Cambodia Tourism Federation defended the decision to the Phnom Penh Post. “The prices have been unchanged for 25 years and were overdue for an increase. We are not anticipating any negative impact on tourism numbers. The new price is competitive to what is offered by our neighbors and internationally.”