High airfares, scams weigh on Cambodia's Angkor tourism

Siem Reap, Cambodia's gateway to the Angkor temple complex, is experiencing a significant drop in tourist arrivals due to soaring travel expenses and concerns over organized scams. Foreign visitors, particularly from Europe, are deterred by high airfares and the country's reputation as a hub for fraudulent activity. The decline in travel follows worsening conditions in the Middle East, which has reduced flight availability and increased costs.

Visitor numbers at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor complex fell 32 percent to 388,000 between January and June, compared to the previous year. Major markets such as the United States, Britain, France, and China saw reduced arrivals, and Japan's visitor numbers dropped 33 percent. Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, opened in 2023, handles only a dozen international flights daily, mainly to neighboring countries, far below pre-pandemic levels.

The slowdown is evident on Pub Street, a popular tourist district, where crowds are noticeably absent. Tourism officials attribute the downturn to rising airfares, which put Siem Reap at a disadvantage compared to neighboring Vietnam and Thailand. The province is struggling to utilize its international airport's capacity for long-haul flights.

Many workers in the tourism industry, who had thrived before the pandemic, are now struggling to find employment. Hotel manager Sok Piseth reported that hotels have reduced staff to minimum levels and scaled back services like spas. The Cambodian government introduced a temporary visa waiver for Chinese tourists in June to boost the industry, but the effects of organized scams and high airfares remain a significant challenge.