Siem Reap turns to night tourism, discounts and ‘Plus One’ marketing to boost visitors

Cambodia has launched a cluster of tourism initiatives aimed at restoring international demand for Siem Reap and Angkor Cambodia has launched a cluster of tourism initiatives aimed at restoring international demand for Siem Reap and Angkor, combining substantial hotel discounts, community-based night attractions and a broader marketing campaign designed to place the Kingdom on more multi-country Asian itineraries.

The measures come amid a severe downturn. Cambodia received 1.75 million international visitors during the first half of 2026, down 47.9 per cent from 3.36 million a year earlier. Angkor Archaeological Park attracted 387,772 foreign visitors over the same period, a decline of 31.7 per cent, while ticket revenue fell 29.8 per cent to US$18.47m.

The most immediately visible intervention is the pilot “2026 Siem Reap Tourism Service Mega Sale”, which began on 1 August. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism with the Siem Reap chapter of the Cambodia Hotel Association and the Siem Reap Tourism Club Association, it provides discounts of between 10 and 50 per cent at participating three-, four- and five-star establishments.

Nearly 60 tourism businesses had reportedly joined the scheme at its launch, including more than 50 hotels and other accommodation providers. Offers covering hotels, resorts and selected tourism services are being promoted through the Cambodia Wonder booking platform to both domestic and international travellers during the Green Season.

The sale is intended not only to fill rooms during the traditional low season, but also to make longer stays financially attractive. This is particularly important when higher airfares and economic uncertainty are encouraging travellers to shorten trips, trade down to cheaper accommodation or abandon long-haul Asian holidays altogether. In Siem Reap, tourism workers and small businesses have already reported sharply reduced earnings as visitor numbers and discretionary spending have declined.

A second initiative seeks to expand Siem Reap’s tourism economy beyond daylight visits to Angkor Wat. On 30 July, Tourism Minister Huot Hak officially launched night tourism services at the Bakong My Village Tourism Community near Bakong Temple, part of the Roluos temple group.

The project links the area’s temple heritage with rural scenery, community dining, locally sourced Cambodian food, homestays and other village experiences. The objective is to persuade visitors to remain in the area after the temples close, thereby directing more expenditure towards residents rather than concentrating economic activity in central Siem Reap. Bakong My Village was established in 2020 as a community-based tourism project intended to create employment and strengthen local livelihoods around a less-visited section of the Angkor region.

The launch may also serve as a model for more ambitious evening attractions. The government has approved in principle an inter-ministerial group to support film tourism and night-time temple visits. Officials have discussed testing controlled evening access at one or two temples, alongside cultural activities capable of extending visitor stays. A promotional film involving Cambodian and South Korean actors at major tourism destinations is also being prepared.

Alongside these product and pricing measures, the Ministry of Tourism and private-sector operators have agreed to expand direct international promotion and “Plus One” marketing. The strategy is intended to rebuild confidence while encouraging travellers already planning holidays elsewhere in Southeast Asia to add Cambodia to their itineraries. It complements continuing regional efforts to market Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as connected destinations for visitors from third-country markets.

These latest measures form part of a broader Cambodia Tourism Board campaign involving international media, digital creators, airlines and travel agents. During the first half of 2026, the board hosted 20 content creators and worked with 10 media outlets, while 145 overseas agents had participated in its planned 500-Agent Familiarisation Trip Programme. Partnerships have also been developed with Singapore Airlines, AirAsia, Etihad and Turkish Airlines, together with tourism authorities in Singapore and Sanya.

Taken together, the initiatives address three weaknesses simultaneously: the cost of visiting, the limited range of evening experiences and insufficient visibility within regional travel distribution networks. Discounts may generate short-term bookings, but the longer-term value will depend on whether night tourism, community attractions, improved connectivity and international marketing can persuade travellers to treat Siem Reap as a multi-day destination rather than simply a brief stop at Angkor Wat. News Team