Preah Vihear tourism up

Cambodia reports a rise in tourism numbers to Preah Vihear, located at the border of Thailand and Cambodia, and is at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between the two nations.

Tourists flock to temple
Phnom Penh Post, 15 July 2010

Tourists visiting Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple increased nearly sevenfold in the first half of this year, as the area benefited from better infrastructure and reduced tension with Thailand.

Preah Vihear Tourism Department chief Kong Vibol said yesterday that from January to June this year 46,400 tourists visited the Preah Vihear temple complex.

The figure is a dramatic leap from the 5,940 tourists recorded over the same period last year. Foreign visitors were also being drawn to the site – they increased by 85 percent to 480 from 260.