In the notification, he explained that the royal government would manage all aspects of administering the ancient temples. This includes the issuing of tickets, setting up a public agency to correctly utilise the income from them and the hiring and firing of staff.
He finished off by saying the right to sell tickets would revert to the government in the new year. Information-minister Khieu Kanharith confirmed the PM’s statement by saying the current agency, Sok Kong, was relinquishing its rights to sell Angkor Wat tickets.
Sok Kong is a subsidiary of the Sokha Hotel Company and has held the contract to sell entry tickets since 1999. Angkor Wat dates from the 12th century and is one of Cambodia’s biggest tourist attractions. It pulled in more than two million visitors last year.
Income from ticket sales was almost US$60 million in 2014. Tickets are currently priced at US$20 for a one-day pass, US$40 for a three-day one and US$60 for seven days.
Angkor Wat entry tickets revert to government control
News in Asia
The prime-minister of Cambodia has announced that the government will take over responsibility for issuing entry tickets to the Angkor Wat temple complex. Hun Sen posted the announcement on his Facebook page and said it was great news for the people of Cambodia.