Cambodia's tourist city "transforms" during the epidemic

Cambodia's tourist city "transforms" during the epidemic

According to SCMP, there are few cities in Asia that contain unique cultural tourism like Siem Reap (Cambodia).

Cambodia's small city - Siem Reap used to be the gateway to the Angkor archaeological park for many years before becoming a tourist destination in its own right. Siem Reap's economy is currently being heavily affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, but large-scale infrastructure projects to develop tourism continue to be implemented in the long term. One of these projects must include the Angkor Wat temple complex.

From provinces to urban areas, the city of temples (Temple Town) has witnessed a tremendous increase in tourists in recent years because of the attractiveness of riverside cities, luxury shops, etc. respect and hospitality of the people here. Although tourists decreased in 2019 because of the epidemic, tourism in this land has left a deep impression in the hearts of visitors who have visited.

The Covid-19 epidemic has caused tourists not to have the opportunity to come to Siem Reap, but it is an opportunity for the government of this country to focus on recovering the tourism industry. The pandemic has also caused Siem Reap tourism to lose revenue from international visitors, but the large number of domestic tourists coming here is quite large. During the Khmer New Year, Siem Reap tourism attracts more than 214,000 visitors and earns up to 100 million USD.

People visit the temple complex of Angkor Wat. Photo: AFP

Recently, in addition to focusing on preserving historical beauty, Siem Reap also focuses on developing new infrastructure to promote tourism development in the city to stimulate tourism demand to return after the epidemic. And certainly, focusing more on renovating the monument as well as expanding the infrastructure promises to bring many surprises to visitors after returning.

Conservation is always focused. Photo: AFP

Ecotourism development projects including Song Saa conservation area - an eco-tourism area in Banteay Srei district by 2023 promises to be a new destination for tourists in the coming time.

In addition, the satellite city project in the Soutr Nikum area - 60km east of Siem Reap is also a bright spot for the tourism industry. The project includes a commercial center and high-rise buildings that will help tourists experience Phnom Kulen national park, the birthplace of the Angkorean empire and the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia -Tonlé Sap. This is a bright spot of the city's tourism industry during the epidemic and offers hope for post-Covid-19 tourism recovery.