PhnomPenh (VNA) – The number of foreign tourists visiting Siem Reap –Cambodia’s main cultural destination – continues to drop.
Accordingto statistics from the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, the number of foreign arrivals to Siem Reap, which houses the Angkor Wat temple complex, reached 1.55 million in thefirst eight months of 2019, down 11 percent year-on-year.
The number of international visitors to the locality in 2019 may declinebetween 15 and 20 percent compared to last year, Khmer Angkor Tour Guide Association President Khieu Thy told theEnglish-language newspaper Phnom Penh Post.
He added that tour guide businesses in Siem Reapare too quiet now, and they are facing loss situation, even are in danger of shutdown.
An employee at Lucky Angkor Hotel and Spa in Siem Reap said that hoteloccupancy has seen a 30-40 percent decline from last year.
Cambodia welcomed 4.36 million foreign visitors in the first eight monthsof 2019, including 1.7 million from China – up 33 percent year on year, accordingto the ministry./.