Paper short abstract:

The study encompasses the positive effects and possible threats of cultural tourism in Angkor.

Paper long abstract:

Cambodia , a culturally significant country in South-East Asia draws the attention of several tourists for its ancient culture and heritage. It is well-known for the ancient civilization of Khmer centered in Angkor. Angkor has thus been a unique icon of this ancient civilization and the Cambodian nation as a whole. In the year 1992 Angkor Archaeological Park, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, became a World Heritage Site. It was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The APSARA National Authority, monitored by the ICC-Angkor, took great initiatives in conserving the sites. These efforts finally lead to the removal of the property from the World Heritage List in danger in 2004. Since then Angkor and Siem reap have become a prime focus for cultural tourism. The region gets huge amount of tourists from different parts of the world. This has lead into greater visitor traffic than the cultural and physical infrastructure of the region can sustainably handle.

Angkor is thus witnessing the economic and social development to a certain extent along with a number of severe issues generating from such development. Cultural tourism has on one hand given a thrust for financial, social and economic development while on the other has brought about a threat for sustainability and heritage management in the region.

This paper aims to highlight the boons of cultural tourism and the major threats it poses for sustainable development and heritage management principles of the ancient sites of Angkor.