Phnom Penh, September 4, 2024 — Ly Se, Director General of the Angkor Institution, announced plans on September 2, 2024, to install automated ticket vending machines for international tourists near the temples in the Angkor resort area. This initiative, set to begin in early October, aims to simplify the ticket purchasing process for visitors who do not buy tickets online or directly from the Angkor Institution's ticket office.

Previously, international tourists were required to purchase tickets when entering the Angkor resort area, regardless of whether they intended to visit specific temples. However, the new policy will allow tourists to pass through the area without buying a ticket unless they visit the temples themselves.

Ly Se also revealed plans to restructure the ticketing system by organizing the sale of tickets into groups of temples. This approach is intended to enhance the visitor experience by making it easier for tourists to plan their visits, reduce the time spent on ticketing, and potentially increase national revenue. For example, tourists could buy tickets for "Group A," which includes Angkor Wat and Bayon Temple, or "Group B," which covers Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei, without facing any price increases. The new system will categorize the temples into 17 groups, with implementation expected in early 2025.

Additionally, starting from the end of September 2024, the Angkor Institution will no longer require personal information such as photos, nationality, age group, and gender from tourists purchasing one-day tickets. However, tourists buying three-day or seven-day tickets will still need to provide photographs for ticketing purposes until the end of 2024. The institution is also exploring the feasibility of new technologies and procedures to further streamline the ticket purchasing and inspection process.