Angkor Wat was recently named as the world’s number one landmark in TripAdvisor’s 2017 Traveller’s Choice Awards. The World Heritage site beat competition from the likes of India’s Taj Mahal, Peru’s Machu Picchu, and St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City to take the top spot, The Khmer Times report.
The winners of the annual Traveller’s Choice awards are calculated based on the quantity and quality of reviews for landmarks over a 12-month period, and Angkor Wat consistently impressed reviewers among more than two million tourists that visit the site annually. Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia, said the award would help attract a new wave of foreign tourists.
“It is a good way of promoting our country to the world,” Mr Sinan said.
“The government has been doing a lot to improve services in the tourist industry. Now the general public should get involved and join hands to keep our country clean and attract more tourists.” Fewer than 10,000 foreign tourists visited Angkor Wat in 1993, but this number had swelled to more than 2.19 million by the end of last year, generating $62.5 million from ticket sales.
In February, the government set a new price for entrance to the historical park, bringing the cost into line with other tourism destinations in the region. The price of a one-day pass is now $37, up from $20, while a three-day pass rose to $62 from $40 and a weekly pass to $72 from $60.
There are 25 landmarks on the list announced by TripAdvisor, while the top nine following The Angkor Wat are :
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia
Great Wall art Mutianyu, Beijing, China
Machu Picrchu, Machu Picchu, Peru
Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain
Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy
Source : khmertimeskh.com || Trip Advisor
