Beyond Angkor Wat: get out into the country, see real Cambodia and spread the tourist dollars
- Angkor is Cambodia’s tourist cash cow, but there is much more to see than the temples
- The region around Siem Reap is one of Cambodia’s poorest
Angkor Archaeological Park – Cambodia’s tourist trump card – is synonymous with Siem Reap. Each year, the sprawling ancient site welcomes millions of visitors to stand in awe of the main Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm temples.
The impressive archaeological feats, which date back to the 11th century, often eclipse the wealth of activities peppered across the northwestern province of Siem Reap.
In 2017, almost 2.5 million people visited Angkor Wat, generating more than US$108 million in ticket sales.
However, since entrance fees were increased in February 2017 (a one-day pass jumped from US$20 to US$38, three days from US$40 to US$60 and a week’s entry from US$62 to US$72) more temple trekkers are opting for one-day tickets.
“Tourists are potentially going to spend less time in Siem Reap, so we need to give them more to do,” says Nick Ray, a consultant for German development organisation GIZ, which carries out a range of social development and economic growth projects in Cambodia. “In some ways Siem Reap city can be a bubble. If you jump on a bicycle or take a gentle jaunt into the countryside, the real Cambodia is not far.”
Despite Siem Reap being the country’s tourist hub, the province remains one of the country’s poorest. According to the Asian Development Bank, 51.8 per cent of the population live in poverty. Almost 20 per cent of the area’s residents live in severe poverty.
