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By APD writer Kin Ratha
**PENOM PENH , Jan. 7 (APD) ** –Revenue from ticket sale of Angkor Wat temple, one of seven wonder of the world, in Siem Reap province of Cambodia slightly grow by 8 percent in 2018, a dredging down much from 2017 sale record at 72 percent.
The entrance sale in 2018 generated $116.6 million as income, according a statement from the Angkor Enterprise, which manages the sale.
From January to December, the entrance passes were sold to 2.5 million of foreign visitors, up 5.4 percent compared to 2017, when the price was increased.
In 2016, the government took over ticket sales from the Sokimex group. The Angkor Institution announced new prices, with one-day tickets rising from $20 to $37, three-day tickets from $40 to $62 and one-week tickets from $60 to $72. The rising price came into effect from February 2017.
The new prices include a $2 donation to the children’s hospitals in Cambodia of the Kantha Bopha Foundation. From January to December of 2018, $5.1 million in donations were sent to the charitable organization.
In December alone, ticket sales generated $12.1 million, a 1.59 percent decrease compared with December 2016, with 267,647 foreign nationals visiting the complex.
Tourism key insiders applauded to the increasing income, but they called for more development and establishment of new tourism products to attract and keep tourists stay longer, particularly tourism products in other areas beside Angkor-home Siem Reap province.
Figures from Ministry of Tourism shows that of 4.8 million foreign visitors vising the Kingdom in the first ten months, Siem Reap Angkor received 2.09 million of foreign visitors, while Phnom Penh, coastal area and eco-tourism areas receive 2.7 million, 0.7 million, and 62,338, respectively.
As planned, 6.2 million of foreign visitors are expected to visit in Cambodia in 2018 and 7 million in 2020. Last year, ticket sales at the Angkor complex generated $107 million, a 72.5 percent increase compared with 2016.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
