Cambodia Considers Night Hours for Angkor Wat

Cambodian Authorities Consider Opening Angkor Wat Temples at Night for Tourists

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
June 1, 2009 (AP)

The Associated Press

People passing the north gate of Angkor Thom , showing stonefaces of demons at the famous temple...

People passing the north gate of Angkor Thom , showing stonefaces of demons at the famous temple area of Angkor Archeological Park in Siem Reap in this December 25, 2008 file photo, Cambodia. Cambodia is considering opening the famed Angkor Wat temples at night to draw more tourists to the impoverished country, an official at the archaeological site said.

(EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

Cambodia is considering opening the famed Angkor Wat temples at night to draw more tourists to the impoverished country, an official at the archaeological site said.

Similar night tourism efforts have been introduced at other sites in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia already has installed some lights at the network of centuries-old temples, said Bun Narith, who leads the agency responsible for managing the Angkor park.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earner for cash-strapped Cambodia. More than a million foreign tourists are expected to visit this year, with most from South Korea, Japan and the United States. More than half of tourists visit the Angkor temples, by far the country's biggest draw.