China’s Belt and Road-funded airport launches in Cambodia to serve tourists heading to Angkor Wat

The new airport that cost about US$1.1 billion is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was financed under a 55-year build-operate-transfer deal

Tourism is a main pillar of Cambodia’s economy, receiving 3.5 million international tourists in the first eight months of 2023, according to government data

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A Bayon carpet statue made of copper is displayed in the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport in Cambodia as it opened on Thursday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:52pm, 16 Nov 2023Updated: 11:57pm, 16 Nov 2023

Cambodia on Thursday inaugurated its newest and biggest airport, a Chinese-financed project meant to serve as an upgraded gateway to the country’s major tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwestern province of Siem Reap.

The Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is located on 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of land about 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Angkor Wat and boasts a 3,600-metre- (11,810-foot) long runway. It can handle 7 million passengers a year, with plans to augment it to handle 12 million passengers annually from 2040.

The airport began operations October 16, with the first flight to land coming from neighbouring Thailand. The old airport it replaces was about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from the famous tourist site.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, in Cambodia on Thursday. Photo: AP

Thursday’s inauguration was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, the governor of China’s Yunnan province, Wang Yubo, and other officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hun Manet said the old airport was located too close to the Angkor temples and it was feared that vibrations from passing flights were damaging their foundations.

Tourism is one of the main pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia received some 3.5 million international tourists in the first eight months of 2023, while for the whole of 2019 – the last year before the coronavirus pandemic – it received some 6.6 million foreign visitors.

“Hopefully, 2024 will be the year of the beginning of the advance and rebirth of the tourism sector in our Siem Reap province,” Hun Manet said.