| Abstract: |
Angkor Wat, a complex of 292 temples and buildings, in Siem Reap, Cambodia with World Heritage Site status is among the twenty-one finalists for the new Seven Wonders of the World. Is the temple complex able to do wonders for poverty alleviation in Cambodia? The temple complex is the major draw for international visitors. In 2006, Cambodia received 1.7 million international visitors out of which roughly half visited Siem Reap. Top ten generating markets for Siem Reap were ROK, Japan, Taiwan, USA, Malaysia, France, United Kingdom, China, Australia and Germany. Domestic tourism to Siem Reap Province has doubled since 2004. In 2006 the MOT statistics indicated that close to 783,000 domestic visitors visited Siem Reap compared to roughly 384,000 in 2004. Therefore the Angkor Wat saw an influx of visitors amounting to 1.64 million in 2006. In spite of the vast number of international and domestic visitors to Siem Reap, the province is among the three poorest in the country Kompong Speu, Siem Reap and Kompong Thom according to the poverty assessment conducted by the World Bank in 2006. Poverty headcount index is the highest in the rural areas of the Tonle Sap and Mountain/Plateau regions including Preah Vihear Province. In the rural areas of Tonle Sap the index is 45 compared to 28 in the urban areas. This article analyzes the value of the ancient temples
coexistence of poverty and the World Heritage Site in Cambodia
what are the lessons learnt when planning tourism development around the temples in other parts of Cambodia
and the efforts that tourism stakeholders are undertaking to improve the situation.
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