Cambodia's Angkor greets 1.57 mln foreign visitors in 9 months

Cambodia's Angkor Wat temples, one of the world heritage sites, attracted 1.57 million foreign tourists in the first nine of the year, up 6 percent compared with the same period in a year earlier, a tourism report showed Monday.

South Korea, China, Vietnam, Japan and Thailand are the largest sources of tourist arrivals to the 12th century temples, said the report of the Siem Reap provincial tourism department.

During the January-September period this year, the temples welcomed 259,630 South Koreans, up 3 percent year-on-year; 201,000 Chinese, up 60 percent; 121,700 Vietnamese, down 32 percent; 108, 540 Japanese, up 11 percent and 81,060 Thais, down 5 percent.

"China is leading the growth of tourists to the site this year thanks to Cambodia-China excellent ties, broader promotion of the Angkor to the world, and more direct flight connection between Cambodia and China," Chhoeuy Chhorn, administration chief of the Siem Reap provincial tourism department said.

The Angkor archeological park, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992, is the kingdom's largest cultural tourist destination. It is located about 315 km northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

An entrance fee to the site is $20 a day for a foreigner, $40 for a three-day visit and $60 for a week-long visit.

Last year, the temples attracted 2.06 million foreign visitors, up 28 percent year-on-year.

Sourced: Cambodia News