Cambodia should not rely on Angkor Wat alone to sustain tourism, say experts

Cambodia should not rely on Angkor Wat alone to sustain tourism, say experts

The Associated Press

Published: January 22, 2007

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodia should not rely on its famous Angkor Wat temple complex to sustain its tourism industry, and should be looking to develop other destinations as well, officials said Monday.

The advice was given by tourism experts at the launch of a booklet meant to encourage tourists to stay longer to enjoy other attractions that Cambodia has to offer beside its centuries-old monuments.

The country's tourism sector has been developing rapidly in the past few years, becoming a major source of income for the cash-strapped Southeast Asian country. About 1.7 million tourists visited Cambodia last year, roughly a 20 percent increase over 2005.

About half of the visitors went to see Angkor temples in Siem Reap province, Cambodia's main tourism hub.

"One never can take rising streams of tourists for granted," Daniel Haas, first secretary of the German Embassy in Cambodia, said at the launch of the "Stay Another Day Cambodia" booklet.

"Having a wonderful attraction like Angkor Wat is no guarantee that tourists will keep coming to Cambodia," he said, noting the country has attractions beyond its historic culture.

The booklet features products and services including eco-tours, local cuisine and cooking classes, traditional massage, visits to development projects, orphanages, rehabilitation centers, artisans and the concerts of master musicians.

Kate Lloyd-Williams — tourism program manager of the Mekong Private Sector Development Facility, which produced the booklet with sponsorship from Germany — said most tourists simply "fly away" after touring the temples, buying some souvenirs and taking some pictures.

"As we all know, tourists spend less time and money in Cambodia than they do in neighboring countries," she said.