Located about 50 kms from Siem Reap town and the famed temple complex of Angkor Wat, the new US$1.1 billion international airport opened this week. Situated on 1,730 acres, the new Siem Reap air hub will initially be able to handle 7 million arrivals, later to become 12 million in phase two. The former Siem Reap international airport, which was nearer to the archaeological remains and the bustling town, has now closed.
The new airport has been built by Chinese state-owned companies under a 55 year build-operate-transfer agreement between the two countries. The two main justifications for the project were the inability of the old airport to handle some large-bodied jets and fears noise and pollution from the old hub were damaging the foundations of the Angkor Wat site. Chinese money is also building a new airport outside the capital Phnom Penh which is scheduled for completion late next year.
The Cambodian economy is significantly reliant on foreign tourism, particularly Chinese, but the overall numbers so far this year are only about half of the six million achieved in 2019 prior to the Covid pandemonium. Cambodian authorities are keen to regain the initiative, but there is still some reluctance by Chinese citizens to go abroad thanks to the economic downturn in many cities.
Cambodia’s neighbors are also keen to capitalize on the huge Chinese market. Thus Thailand has recently removed a visa requirement for Chinese tourists who now land with a visa-free 30 days which can separately be extended at Thai immigration for another month. Initial entry without paying a fee is a considerable bonus as Chinese visitors to Cambodia are still subject to a US$30 fee for both 30-days prior permits and visas on arrival.
