Siem Reap reveals master plan to revive tourism in the province

Cambodia has welcomed more than 500,000 foreign tourists so far

Tourism-related businesses benefited from tax relief during the pandemic, while those who lost their jobs received USD40 in monthly payments, reported CNA.

Beyond that, the government needed more solid plans to track its progress in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led the country’s tourism ministry to develop a master plan to kickstart and accelerate recovery.

This included diverting tourists from common attractions within the country to lesser known and explored destinations while promoting eco-tourism. 

“Ecotourism is very important for us because they’re new destinations tapping the landscape of Cambodia,” said Neth Pheaktra, Cambodian Ministry of Environment Secretary of State. “We have forests, rice fields, community living. They can potentially attract more foreign tourists to visit while getting the locals to love their country at the same time.”

More: Cambodia lifts quarantine regulations for unvaccinated tourists

Siem Reap is a prime example of this, revealed Phnom Penh Post. The province currently has the Siem Reap Tourism Development Master Plan (2022-2023) in place, which focuses on boosting tourism through six priority destinations: Angkor Archaeological Park, Banteay Srei Protected Area, Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Reap Thmey Tourism Area, the Siem Reap town area, and the Tonle Sap Lake area.

“The 38-road infrastructure project in Siem Reap, thanks to a special budget of around USD150 million, is the right investment based on a long-term vision to promote and rehabilitate the tourism sector in Siem Reap,” said Siem Reap provincial governor Tea Seiha, confident that the master plan will help the country return to pre-pandemic levels.

The tourist industry in Cambodia has expanded tremendously and is now a vital contributor to the nation’s economy, according to the Khmer Times. With more than 6.6 million foreign visitors in 2019, it finally reached an average annual growth rate of 12 percent.

Currently, Cambodia has welcomed more than 500,000 foreign tourists, and the government has a yearend target of a million visitors.

The goal for 2025, however, is to reach seven million international visitors, which was the number before the country went on lockdown.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].