Inside of Sihanoukville Airport

Cambodia has re-opened a seaside airport in a bid to boost tourism in the impoverished nation.

The Sihanoukville airport officially opened Monday after a plane touched down from Siem Reap province, Cambodia's main tourism hub. The airport had been closed since the early 1980s because of financial difficulties.

Government officials are hoping the new landing strip will encourage visitors to spend more time in the country after exploring the world-famous Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap.

Nearly two million (1.7 million) tourists visited Cambodia last year, bringing in much-needed revenue.

The Sihanoukville airport will host only domestic flights this year.

Khek Norinda, spokesman for a French company called Societe Concessionnaire des Aeroports says the runway in Sihanoukville will be extended to more than two kilometers (2.2 kilometers) by the end of the year to accommodate larger aircraft.