Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) welcomed 1.3 million passengers in the first eleven months of 2024, and the numbers are expected to touch 1.4 million by year-end and 2 million in 2025, according to a report presented by the airport’s Chairman, Lu Wei, during a meeting with Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, on Sunday.
Lu said that the company will spare no efforts to promote and organize events to attract tourists, especially Chinese tourists. He thanked the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation for supporting the development of this international airport, especially the water supply network to the airport.
He urged the ministry to develop the surrounding area, focusing on attracting high-value-added industries. “Yunnan Investment Group plans to invest more to develop the airport and surrounding area,” Lu said.
Vanndy lauded the company for its long-term investment in Cambodia and congratulated the SAI for the increase in passengers. He assured the Royal Government’s commitment to supporting companies to attract both tourists and industries to the area.
“We want investment companies with both small and large scale to be successful. As the domestic industry grows, air transport will increase, which will further boost the development of the airport and the surrounding area,” Vanndy said.
The SAI, about 50 km from Siem Reap city, was officially opened in October 2023. The airport has a capacity of up to 7 million passengers per year, providing a modern gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Angkor Wat and other ancient temples.
Director of the Siem Reap Provincial Department of Tourism Thim Sereyvuth told Khmer Times yesterday that 70 percent of tourists visiting Siem Reap travelled by air and 30 percent by land.
“About 4,000 international tourists visit Siem Reap every day have bought Angkor entrance tickets. I believe that in December, January and February, we will receive more tourists because it is the high season with New Year’s eve and Chinese New Year.
“We will improve the quality of services to ensure that the tourists stay longer in Siem Reap,” Sereyvuth said.
The Ministry of Tourism, through the Provincial Department of Tourism and the provincial authorities, has set a number of policies for the development of tourism in the province, and also has a development plan organized by the Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Development Commission to make sure the development of tourism sector in the province goes smooth as planned, he added.
Thong Khon, Senior Minister for Special Mission and Chairman of the Siem Reap-Angkor Tourism Management and Development Committee, said recently that Siem Reap needs to determine development perspectives, including cultural and ecotourism, while visiting temples is still the single main reason for tourists to come to Siem Reap.
