Angkor Visitors Drop 27.6% in 9 Months as Tourism Minister Reveals Reasons

State-owned Angkor Enterprise announced that the number of international visitors to the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia reached 510,528 in the period from January to September 2026, down 27.6% from the same period last year, a decline reflecting widespread pressure on the country's tourism sector.

Ticket sales revenue dropped 25.9% to $24.23 million, indicating that the country's prominent tourist destination was impacted by the significant drop in foreign visitors, which reflects on the country's tourism revenues.

On a monthly basis, visitor numbers in September declined 0.32% to 35,535 visitors, but monthly revenue rose 3.1% to $1.69 million, reflecting a slight improvement in average spending per visitor despite flat numbers, an indicator that could be positive for sector margins.

Tourism Minister Huot Hak attributed the decline to scam operations in the region, tensions on the Thai border, and rising fuel prices, which are pressing factors monitored by regional countries as they affect incoming tourism traffic, with the severity of these factors varying across Asian destinations depending on proximity to tension sources and access costs.

What do these terms mean?

Archaeological Park: A protected historical site surrounded and managed by the state as a tourist attraction. International Visitors: Tourists coming from outside the country, with their numbers usually compared to the same period of the previous year. Ticket Revenue: Total entrance ticket sales before deducting expenses. Tourism Revenues: Total spent by visitors in the country, including entrance fees and trip-related services.