Officials from the US embassy pose for photos within the Koh Ker temple complex in Preah Vihear province in December 2023. NAPV
In the past year, Koh Ker temple complex appears to have attracted more visitors who would otherwise have visited Preah Vihear Temple, both located in Preah Vihear province.
The secluded 10th-century archaeological site of Koh Ker was listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in September 2023.
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According to figures provided by the National Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV) on January 2, Koh Ker – formerly the Khmer Empire’s sole capital from 928 to 944 CE – saw a 71.2 per cent increase in visitors in 2023, with 105,464 people visiting the site, 14,806 of them foreign tourists.
The number of visitors to Preah Vihear Temple totalled 92,966, a drop of 16.7 per cent compared to the previous year. The temple saw 83,723 domestic visitors, a decline of 22 per cent, and 9,243 international tourists, up by nearly 126 per cent.
NAPV director-general Kong Puthika said on January 2 that Preah Vihear – an 11th century temple listed by UNESCO in 2008 – generally received more than 100,000 guests in a typical year, but this figure had dipped below 90,000 for 2023.
He attributed the decline to the increasing number of tourist attractions and various entertainment events organised in other provinces.
Puthika said that in 2024, the NAPV will organise several events that it hopes will attract more visitors to both temples. This includes a sporting event planned for July.
An art performance welcomes participants to the Preah Vihear Temple Run in July last year. NAPV
The authority is also planning a large online campaign, which it expects to reach a wide audience.
Morm Rithy, president of the Cambodian Tourism Service Worker Federation, said he had noted that international and domestic visitor numbers remain low in Cambodia, not only in Preah Vihear but also in neighbouring Siem Reap province – the two main destinations for cultural heritage fans.
“The government, the tourism ministry and the provincial tourism departments should be revising their marketing strategies to avoid doing the same old thing. They should reinvigorate the services that are available to guests, and ensure that staff are well trained,” he added.
He also suggested a fresh promotional campaign.
He believes that ensuring security and political stability is also key to attracting international visitors.
“Politicians should all be working together to make sure that tourists receive a warm welcome to the Kingdom,” he said.
