BURIRAM, Thailand — Ongoing unrest along the Thai-Cambodian border has sharply reduced tourist numbers at two major historical sites in northeastern Thailand, despite officials insisting the areas remain safe.
Visitor numbers at Phanom Rung and Muang Tam temples have dropped by nearly 80% since renewed clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops began on Dec. 8, according to local authorities. The decline has hit local vendors hard, forcing many to halt sales entirely.
The two Khmer-era temples are located in Chaloem Phra Kiat and Prakhon Chai districts of Buriram province, outside the immediate conflict zone. However, concerns over security — particularly among foreign tourists — have kept visitors away.
Pan Boonthawee, 74, a vendor at Phanom Rung, said tourist traffic has all but disappeared. She said she was previously forced to stop selling goods for five days during an earlier flare-up in July, but this time the impact has been worse due to the prolonged fighting. She urged both sides to end the clashes so livelihoods can recover.
Some tourists, however, say they are not deterred. Natkrit Wacharajarakul, a visitor from Ratchaburi province, said he traveled to Phanom Rung to pray for good fortune before the New Year. He said he was not concerned about safety, adding that authorities would restrict access if the area were dangerous.
Napasit Boonlom, head of the Phanom Rung Historical Park, said the site typically receives about 8,000 visitors per week. That number has fallen to roughly 1,900 since the unrest began, with foreign tourists largely absent.
He said both Phanom Rung and nearby Muang Tam temple, located about 6 kilometers apart, are not in designated high-risk zones and have been deemed safe by military authorities. Visitors can continue to travel to the sites as usual, he added.
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