Built to boost tourism, especially to its most visited attraction, Angkor Wat, Cambodia has opened its newest and biggest airport.
Cambodia’s Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport began commercial operations on Monday, with the arrival of a Bangkok Airways flight from Thailand, followed by 16 other flights on its first day.
The new hub was built at a cost of around US$1.1 billion (AU$1.7 billion). But the biggest difference between the new hub and the Siem Reap airport it replaces is its distance from Angkor Wat.
While the old airport was located just five kilometres away from the ancient temple complex, the new Siem Reap-Angkor International is situated some 40 kilometres east of Angkor Wat.
This is on account of fears that vibrations from flights at the old airport were doing damage to the temples’ foundations.
The new airport can currently handle up to 7 million passengers a year. But it plans to almost double its annual capacity to 12 million by 2040, AP reported.
“For the last 23 years, we have served our passengers at Siem Reap International Airport. We appreciate your support over the years,” Cambodia Airports said on social media.
“We look forward to serving all passengers at our other two international airports in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.”
Funded by China
Under construction since 2020, the airport was built under a 55-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) program between Cambodia and China.
New Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and top Chinese officials will officially open the new airport in a ceremony on 16 November, Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth said.
Elsewhere, the country is building another new hub called Techo International Airport to serve the capital Phnom Penh. Also funded by China, the new US$1.5 billion airport is due to open in 2024.
According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the Southeast Asian nation welcomed around 3.5 million international visitors for the year to August 2023, compared to some 6.6 million visitors for the entire year of 2019.
Earlier this year, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said the country expected 4.5 million international tourists to visit Cambodia this year.
In August, the Ministry launched the Siem Reap Tourism Marketing and Promotion Strategic Plan for 2023-2026, in which time it expects to attract 7 million national and international tourists annually to Siem Reap.
Earlier this year, Cambodian authorities relocated thousands of people from settlements near Angkor Wat in a bid to both preserve the ancient temple complex and beautify the area to boost tourism.
Read why The Don’t Forget Travel Group director Andrew Sullivan thinks now is the best time to visit Angkor Wat.
