The Svay Loeu provincial administration in Siem Reap province has announced that foreign visitors are now required to pay $20 per day to enter Preah Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park.

The district administration said, “Citizens of Khnong Phnom commune, Svay Loeu district and Cambodian nationals can enter the park for free.”

The announcement on social media also stated that parking fees for vehicles at the national park will be 5,000 Riels for a truck, 3,000 Riels for a small car, and 1,500 Riels for a motorcycle.

The parking fee for vehicles at the national park covers security and public order, sanitation and maintenance of parking lots.

Administration Director of Siem Reap province Ly Vannak stated that the requirement for foreign tourists to pay $20 per day to climb Kulen Mountain is in accord with principles set out by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

 
 
Ly added that he felt the fee for visiting tourist areas in Cambodia is not expensive compared to tourist sites in neighbouring countries. He added that paying $20 to visit to the national park is not expensive because on Mount Kulen there are many temples and attractions that tourists can visit the same day – like waterfalls, elephant ponds, bat pools and more.

“This fee is similar to the fee of $37 to visit temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. It costs $37, but tourists can visit many temples in the Angkor area, such as Angkor Wat, Bayon, Bakheng, Ta Prohm, Pre Rub and others in the area.”

President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, Chhay Sivlin, believes that the $20 price for a Kulen park ticket seems a bit too high for foreign tourists, especially those visiting in groups.

She said the price could deter visits by foreign tourists, and travel agents are reluctant to place foreign tourists into any tour they may see as being too expensive.

“If we can better develop the area on Mount Kulen and provide more services, we can ask for this kind of price.”

She hopes the new government will consider accelerating the development of the resort.

Last year, the Apsara National Authority announced that foreigners residing in Cambodia for two years or longer may apply for a ‘one-year free visit pass’ to enter all the temples at Angkor Archaeological Park, including the outlying temples of Banteay Srei and Koh Ker.

Foreigners eligible for the free pass include retired individuals, those employed in all kinds of private companies and enterprises, diplomats, investors, officials of international organisations as well as experts working in ministries, public and private institutions along with their immediate families.

The ANA did not specify whether or not long-term foreign residents may use their free pass to enter Preah Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park.