Cambodia has a lot on offer for tourists looking for history and heritage. Once the Khmer Empire and now officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, the country is famed for its rich culture and history. The Angkor temple is the largest religious monument globally, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple’s architecture makes it one of the finest monuments in the world. Culture and history buffs can also spend time exploring other spectacular structures, monuments and sculptures -The Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, the killing fields outside of Phnom Penh and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Adding to its beauty, apart from the ancient temples, Cambodia also has treasures along its coastline. The Sihanoukville Province has pristine sandy beaches, that are quiet and peaceful. The country is also a treasure trove for shoppers and bargain hunters with a wide array of options to choose from. Shopping enthusiasts can take a trip to Siem Reap to pick out the best quality silk cloth and Cambodian crafts such as stone carvings, silverware and ceramics.

For foodies there’s the famous Khmer dish -the fish Amok and other exquisite delicacies from Khmer cuisine including Bai sachchrouk- pork and rice, Khmer red curry, Nom banh chok – Khmer noodles and the Kdamchaa-fried crab. Around 93% of Cambodians practice Theravada Buddhism and are known to be industrious, kind, generous, hospitable and open-minded people. While Thailand may be known for its beaches, the Cambodian south coast is the new island region to explore for avid travellers.

The disruptions to foreign travel along with internal lockdowns will have a dampening effect on Cambodia’s economy. However, mid 2021, with vaccination drives in full force, we may see a silver lining on the tourism horizons. Cambodia’s economy continues to grow, showing growth of 3% and 5.2% in 2021 and 2022.