Asia & the Pacific



The Cambodian government has ended the private management of ticket sales at Angkor Wat and will take over control of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Temples of Angkor in Cambodia were named Lonely Planet's top tourist destination.

The Temples of Angkor in Cambodia were named Lonely Planet’s top tourist destination. Image by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY 2.0

Angor Wat ticket sales had been managed by a private company, called Sokimex, since 1999.

Prime Minister Hun Sen made the announcement in a post on Facebook, saying the decision was made in cabinet, reports the Khmer Times.

The government will now set up a public enterprise to manage the historic site, including the staff, income and expenses.

Visitors entering Angkor Wat.

Visitors entering Angkor Wat. Image by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY-SA 2.0

According to the Bangkok Post, the move comes after criticism from an opposition party, which had alleged the government lost some of its revenue from ticket sales. The temple is the largest religious monument in the world.

The Temples of Angkor are the most visited attraction in Cambodia and were ranked first on Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List, which sets out the world’s top 500 sites.

A one-day ticket to Angkor Wat is $20.

Read also: World’s top 500 sights revealed in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List 2015