Trees link tourists

SIEM REAP  Apsara Authority signed an agreement with local telecom, firm Camtowerlink Communications, to install six camouflaged mobile towers across the historical park.

Phnom Penh Post quoted Apsara Authority communication director, Long Kosal, saying the towers will be designed to resemble trees.

The objective is to offer better mobile connections for visitors.

It is the first time that Apsara has allowed telecommunication towers inside the Angkor Wat park area and the authority says it has been careful to minimise the visual and environmental impact.

Tourists have little or no mobile cover in certain areas of the archaeological park, which prompted the park’s management to study the camouflaged towers option.

The installation of the towers has already begun and will be completed by June this year. Following the completion of six towers, there are plans to add 18 more antennas, the report said.

Last year, 2.1 million international tourists visited Angkor temples, a 1.96% increase from 2014.

Revenue from foreign visitor ticket sales at the Angkor Archaeological Park reached USD60 million in 2015, up 1.2% year-on-year.

China, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam are the largest sources of tourists to the site.

Currently, foreign visitors pay USD20 for a one-day pass to the temples, USD40 for three days and USD60 for seven days.

The park,  inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992, is  located in Siem Reap province, 315 km northwest of capital Phnom Penh.