History of Siem Reap’s Tourism

From the Very Beginning

In the 13th century, Siem Reap was little more than an expanse of empty countryside but with the first Hindu and then Buddhist mega settlement, it began to boom with the building of hundreds of temples. Many years later, (as shared by Sacchin and Manish in their post of the History of Siem Reap) the École Française d’Extrême Orient (EFEO) began a long association with Angkor as the French became Cambodia’s colonial master in the 19th century. The EFEO funded an expedition into Siam to the Bayon and Siem Reap was still little more than a village when the first French explorers re-discovered Angkor in 1901.

With the acquisition of the Angkor by the French seven years later in 1907, the EFEO cleared and restored the whole site and in the same year, Angkor received its first wave of tourists- an unprecedented 200 people in three months. Siem Reap was the beneficiary of these early waves of tourism as it then began to be developed beyond the huts that previously made up the town. Infrastructure and buildings began to grow with the arrival of tourists, with many French colonial buildings that can still be seen till today. For instance, The Grand Hotel d’Angkor opened its doors in 1929 and with the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap attracted even celebrities like Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Kennedy.

Then, the Kingdom of Cambodia gained independence from its French protectorate and despite the French pulling out of the country in the 1950s, Siem Reap remained one of Asia’s leading tourism draw. In fact, Cambodia used to be one of the most famous tourist destinations with annual tourist arrivals from 50,000 to 70,000.

However in 1975, the communist Khmer Rouge took over the country and literally drove the entire population of Siem Reap (along with the rest of the population in other cities and towns in Cambodia) into the countryside. Meanwhile, Angkor lay dormant and there was not a single visitor that visited the site as Siem Reap remained off-limits to tourists.

Siem Reap was the scene of heavy fighting that remained sporadic for much of the next decade as the Vietnamese army entered Cambodia in 1979. Decades of civil war, insurgencies, isolation and particularly the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge, the tourism industry was almost totally destroyed.

Siem Reap and Cambodia Today

After conflict resolution in the early 1990s and with strong support from the international community, Cambodia returned to peace and socio-economic reconstruction. Cambodia began to stabilise and with a rejuvenated tourist industry, Siem Reap emerged from a long slumber became one of the biggest Cambodian beneficiaries, taking small but important steps to an important journey to recovery. Tourist arrivals have increased dramatically from 1993 to today, with an annual average increase of about 30 percent. Since, Siem Reap has emerged as the fastest growing city in Cambodia and remains a gateway to the famous heritage site of the Angkor temples.

With these attractions serving as its main draw, Siem Reap has managed to transform itself into one of Cambodia’s fastest growing city and into a major tourist hub. In fact, tourism has become one of the most important industries contributing to the overall economic recovery and development of Cambodia, with Tourism is one of the largest contributors to the Cambodian economy after the agriculture and textile industry and is the second largest income generator after the garment industry. For example, tourism generated tourism receipts of US$1.56 billion in 2009 with more than 2 million visitors.

Today, Siem Reap has emerged as a vibrant and exciting city with hotels and modern amenities, and it has pretty much continued to conserve much of its distinctive image, culture, traditions and architecture. In fact, besides its economic advantages, the Cambodian government views tourism as an effective tool to promote the cultural values and identity of Cambodia which had been lost given the excessive external interventions. An example of which is the Angkor temples. While the Angkor temples have always existed, the Khmers have always regarded it as a religious site and never thought of it as a symbol of national pride. Today, Angkor has become the symbol of nationalism and Cambodian identity, with a recent UNESCO/Trip Advisor survey declaring the Angkor as the most recommended World Heritage site.

Tourism Statistics For the Geeks!

If you want to find out more about their tourism statistics such as mode of arrivals, visitor arrivals by country of destination, top 10 arrival markets, average length of stay and hotel occupancy, etc, download Cambodia’s tourism statistics (2010)

View This Documentary on Angkor Wat!

Do spare some time to view this BBC documentary. It is an hour long but is such worthwhile investment in return for a solid education of Angkor Wat and its wonders. I didn’t even know that the water tributaries that lead to the Mekong River will actually reverse in direction for certain months of the year and back up into the Tonle Sap Lake. In fact, the video even shared how the ancient Khmers would even carve the images of gods into the river beds, including lingums (symbolic of the male phallus) to bless the waters.  Such a showcase of their mastery over their craft of stone carving as an act of devotion to their gods. Watch this YouTube documentary on Angkor Wat. After all, the Angkor Wat is so integral to Siem Reap’s tourism, so make sure you watch it!

References:

http://www.mot.gov.kh/index.php

http://www.siemreap-town.gov.kh/

http://www.cambodia-tourism.org/statistic/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap

Chheang, V (2008). “The Political Economy of Tourism in Cambodia”. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Vol 13 No. 3

Chheang, V (2009). “State and Tourism Planning: A Case Study of Cambodia”. Journal of Tourism, Vol 4 No. 1

Chen, C.Y., Sok, P., Sok, K., (2008). “Evaluating the Competitiveness of the Tourism Industry in Cambodia: Self- assessment from Professionals”. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 13. No. 1

996 thoughts on “History of Siem Reap’s Tourism

  1. CODE PROMO 1XBET 2024 – BONUS DE 100% JUSQU’À 130 €/$
    Code Promo pour 1xBet 2024 : MAX545 tous les détails sur les bonus de bienvenue. Enregistrez-vous dès maintenant avec notre offre spéciale 1xBet 2024 pour bénéficier d’un bonus de bienvenue de 100% jusqu’à 130$. Tous les nouveaux joueurs reçoivent un bonus de bienvenue de 1xBet pour la création d’un compte avec un code promotionnel. For more at code promo 1xbet cameroun du jour

  2. Я каждый раз читал сообщения в новостных газетах, но теперь, когда я стал пользователем сети, я использую ее.
    я пользователь сети, 토토사이트 순위 поэтому с этого момента я использую
    net для контента, благодаря web.

  3. Action games are characterized by fast-paced gameplay and physical challenges. Popular titles include “Call of Duty” and “Assassin’s Creed,” known for their thrilling combat and dynamic environments. 룰렛 게임 사이트

  4. This article truly makes a good point! It was successful for the author to present the information in a way that was both clear and easy to understand. Buaya4d is a very helpful tool for writers to connect many concepts that they may not have thought of otherwise, making their work more relevant and interesting overall.

  5. Contendre Solar is a leading solar panel manufacturer and supplier based in Maharashtra, India. We offer a wide range of solar products for both residential and commercial use, including solar panels, solar inverters, solar batteries, solar charge controllers, and other related products.

    https://contendresolar.com/

  6. RO pumps | Cloud International LLP

    Our range includes filter housings, RO pumps, and mineral cartridges, meticulously designed to deliver outstanding performance and unwavering reliability.

    https://cloudwater.in/

  7. UPVC window and door systems | SuperWin Technologies

    SuperWin specializes in designing, manufacture and installation of UPVC window and door systems. The company offers a delicate combination of style, strength and security in its range of customized contemporary designed products. This combination coupled with its precision in engineering makes SuperWin an expert in its field. SuperWin products conform to various Indian and British Standards.

    https://www.superwinwindows.com/

  8. Thats nice blog ,, Bet insurance on 1XBET is a smart move for risk-averse bettors. It allows you to protect a portion of your stake, giving you peace of mind. The extensive sportsbook and various bonus types make betting even more rewarding.For more at 1xbet promo code free bet

  9. Raden138 Pilihan terbaik slot gacor gampang menang di situs slot online maxwin yang memberikan kemenangan hari ini serta sensasi pengalaman bermain yang berbeda dan banyak untungnya!, Nikmati permainan slot gacor hari ini yang selalu memberikan kemenangan kepada player dijamin, udah pasti maxwin deh!.

  10. Selamat datang di WSO55 sebagai situs judi slot online terpercaya yang berhasil menghadirkan game slot gacor hari ini dan agen slot88 terbaik, kami juga akan memberikan anda pengalaman bermain paling menyenangkan dengan bonus melimpah serta gampang meraih kemenangan jackpot tanpa perlu mengeluarkan modal banyak.

  11. I’m thrilled to share my excitement about this site! After reading so many positive comments, including about engagements and birthdays, I had to add my own. A friend introduced me to SEVlaser, and the experience was fantastic. It’s such a treat to reserve time for yourself as a gift. Seeing others’ happy experiences made me want to share mine too. Check out their amazing services here: Laser Hair Removal in Glendale.

  12. WSO55 merupakan situs slot gacor maxwin gampang menang resmi 2024 dengan daftar game slot online gacor hari ini dan menyediakan pola slot88 gacor terbaik.

  13. WSO55 adalah situs slot gacor hari ini terbaru gampang menang yang bekerja sama dengan beragam jenis provider slot online termasuk provider paling populer sekalipun.

  14. WSO55 – Where Big Wins Happen:
    At WSO55, we specialize in providing the most exciting slot games online. Our extensive collection of WSO Slot games is tailored to meet the needs of every type of player, from beginners to seasoned pros. Featuring Slot Gacor, the standout games known for their frequent payout rates and massive jackpots, WSO55 is where you can test your luck and potentially walk away with huge rewards. Our platform is designed with player enjoyment in mind, offering smooth gameplay, stunning visuals, and exciting bonus features that make every spin more thrilling than the last.

  15. 1xBet promo code: 1XGIFT200 when registering in 2024. This code will allow you to obtain a welcome bonus of up to 100% bonus on sports betting and $1,500 on the casino + 150 free spins. To get your free bet, new customers can register for free at 1xbet and enter the promotional code.For more at 1xbet pakistan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *