Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Planes, prayers, and a golden Buddha: Inside Cambodia’s $2
billion-dollar airport gamble
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1992, Angkor Wat
is a massive, 12th-century temple complex in Cambodia. Before the Pandemic,
nearly three million people visited the magnificent ruin. The nearest airport
was the 90-year-old Siem Reap International Airport, only 8 km from downtown
Siem Reap, the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, but in 2023, it was replaced by Siem
Reap–Angkor International Airport, located nearly 50 km east of the city center.
Last year, just over a million international tourists bought tickets to the
monument.
The capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, used to be served by conveniently
located Pochentong International Airport, only 9 km from the city center. It was
replaced by the newly built Techo International Airport in September this year.
It is located a little over 20 km south of the capital. A massive nine-ton
bronze Buddha statue sits in the departure area of the airport to convey peace
and happiness to departing travelers. Both airports are expected to play key
roles in Cambodia’s Sacred Tourism 2025-2035 to develop wellness, agricultural,
and community tourism. The government hopes the modern airports will help draw
more travelers to Cambodia. However, increased caution is advised for visitors due
to safety concerns and border conflict with Thailand. How will the new airports
help Cambodia’s tourism?
Read the article and learn about the newly opened airport in Phnom Penh.
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