Cambodia to link World Heritage

PHNOM PENH Cambodia will develop heritage tourism packages now that it has three World Heritage sites under its belt.

The three World Heritage Sites are Angkor Wat, listed in 1992, Preah Vihear (2008) and the Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site in Kampong Thom province listed earlier this month.

Khmer Times quoted Tourism Minister Thong Khon saying the addition of Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site as a UNESCO world heritage would prompt new tour programmes.

“About 50% of tourists to Cambodia visit cultural and historical tourism sites like Angkor Wat, so we believe there are opportunities to package the three sites.”

Cambodia National Tourism Alliance general secretary, Ho Vandy, noted that Cambodia’s travel agents association has 300 members and they will now be encouraged to promote the three sites.

Promoting a World Heritage trail for all three World Heritage sites remains a challenge. Angkor Wat attracts the most visitors, while just a few visit Preah Vihear, which is perched on top of a ridge adjacent to the border with Thailand and more difficult to reach.

To make a World Heritage trail work it would require considerable cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand to create a route with minimal back tracking. Ideally, visitors would start with a trip to Northeast Thailand possibly staying in Buri Ram before travelling south to cross the border with Cambodia to visit Preah Vihear and them continuing their tour to Angkor Wat.

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