1. Overview of the New Airport
2. Significance for Tourism
3. Future Plans and Flight Destinations
4. Exploring Beyond Angkor Wat
Cambodia has introduced a brand-new airport for travelers flying directly to its popular attraction of Angkor Wat. This development offers an upgraded experience to reach the famous site, consequently aiming to boost tourism.
The new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), located 25 miles east of Angkor Wat, is now the largest airport in Cambodia. It welcomed its first flights recently, as reported by The Associated Press. The inaugural flight to land at this new airport was a Bangkok Airways flight coming from Thailand.
Although the airport is situated farther from the ancient site than its predecessor, which was just over 3 miles away from the temples, this distance has been deemed beneficial. Officials were concerned that the vibrations from frequent flights might damage the temples’ foundations.
“The launching and commissioning of the first commercial flights to SAI marks a turning point for Cambodia in promoting tourism development within its historic territory, featuring the largest international airport in the Siem Reap Angkor region,” stated Vongsey Vissoth, the deputy prime minister and minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, according to The Phnom Penh Post.
This newly constructed airport, established under an agreement between Cambodia and China, has the capacity to accommodate 7 million passengers per year. Moreover, plans are underway to enhance its facilities to handle 12 million passengers annually by 2040.
The completion of this new airport, which commenced construction in 2020, aligns with Cambodia’s goal to regain the tourism numbers seen prior to the pandemic. In the first eight months of this year, the nation welcomed approximately 3.5 million international tourists, a notable decrease from around 6.6 million international visitors in 2019.
Flights to the new airport will arrive from various regional destinations, such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore, according to flight tracker FlightAware.
While Angkor Wat stands as one of the most popular tourist sites in Cambodia, the country is home to numerous lesser-visited temples, including the ancient city of Mahendraparvata. For travelers keen on visiting Angkor Wat without the crowds, exclusive properties like Amansara provide unique experiences, such as accessing the site at dawn through a clandestine back entrance.
