Foreigner - you pay more
The Government has doubled the price of admission to the Royal Palace for foreigners to $6.50 per person. The price for Cambodians is $0.25. There is a considerable difference between the two admission fees. This price hike only serves to reinforce the "screw the foreigners" mentality that is prevalent. In any country $6.50 is especially expensive and tourists, including most backpackers, will skip the palace at such extortionate rates.
Thailand's national museum: $1.60
The Prince's Palace, Copenhagen: $0.00
Muzium Negara Malaysia : $0.60
Royal Palace of Cambodia: $6.50
Many museums and palaces do charge but have one free day, such as the first Sunday of every month, but there is no such provision in Phnom Penh. Ultimately the price hike will bring down the number of visitors and profits will suffer. If at the time the gov raises the prices again, well, I won't be surprised.
Thailand's national museum: $1.60
The Prince's Palace, Copenhagen: $0.00
Muzium Negara Malaysia : $0.60
Royal Palace of Cambodia: $6.50
Many museums and palaces do charge but have one free day, such as the first Sunday of every month, but there is no such provision in Phnom Penh. Ultimately the price hike will bring down the number of visitors and profits will suffer. If at the time the gov raises the prices again, well, I won't be surprised.
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1 comment:
I have visited the palace three times in 16 months. I use a local guide ($5 per group) each time and they give an interesting insight into the royal family and the palace itself.
With the increase in price there is now an improved information leaflet about the palace and you don't need to pay an extra fee to bring a camera in.
The palace also looks like it has had a "spit and polish." There has been painting and restoration works so it looks like the increased fees are actually going back into the palace!
A backpacker can easily avoid a couple of beers over a night or two to make up the price of the entrance fee and as for foreigner's pay more well I know in my organisation that even as a so-called volunteer, my living allowance is 3 - 4 times the average wage here (and supposedly staff in my organisation get paid well)!! However I speak for myself here, as I do know a lot of self-funded volunteers here who could definitely benefit by not paying the seemingly exorbitant differences :)
Maggie
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