Cambodia To Develop Preah Vihear Into Tourism Spot

[peter991]

Cambodia to develop Preah Vihear into tourism spot

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Cambodian government will develop the Preah Vihear temple near the border with Thailand into a tourism spot, local press reported Tuesday.

The move is part of the Cambodian government’s efforts to reach its goal of attracting 3 million tourists annually by 2010.

Hang Soth, general director of the newly-established Preah Vihear National Authority, said that roads and infrastructure should be developed first so as to attract tourists.

"The aim of our development is to attract tourists and preserve the temple," he said.

"Tourists will not be able to reach the Preah Vihear temple if the potential area is not developed," Tourism Minister Thong Khon said.

Currently, the temple is more easily accessed via Thailand. A cliff makes access difficult from the Cambodian side of the temple.

The temple is expected to rival the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province after development is completed, Soth said.

Peter

Note: That's a fairly strong claim that the Preah Vihear temple is expected to rival the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province after development is completed. Have any ThaiVisa members visited the Preah Vihear temple?

[cclub75]

Note: That's a fairly strong claim that the Preah Vihear temple is expected to rival the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province after development is completed. Have any ThaiVisa members visited the Preah Vihear temple?

I did.

It's an impressive monument, served by an astonishing environment (the temple is located on the top of a hill, with an abrupt end on the cambodian's side, giving a superb view).

Definitely worth a visit. Definitely.

Can it "rival" with Angkor site ? Of course not. And furthermore, i think that there is no point to try to compare.

Edited March 25, 2008 by cclub75

[Dave the Dude]

Note: That's a fairly strong claim that the Preah Vihear temple is expected to rival the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province after development is completed. Have any ThaiVisa members visited the Preah Vihear temple?

I did.

It's an impressive monument, served by an astonishing environment (the temple is located on the top of a hill, with an abrupt end on the cambodian's side, giving a superb view).

Definitely worth a visit. Definitely.

Can it "rival" with Angkor site ? Of course not. And furthermore, i think that there is no point to try to compare.

Hi

I've been to both and I would agree with the above comments. Preah Vihear (PV)is a great place to visit but thats it, with Ankor Wat (AW)you have the added advantage of staying nearby in Siam Reip with its interesting restaurants/bars/museums ect. PV is good for 3 hours and AW is good for 3 days.

Dave

[technocracy]

Well if they 'develop' it in a way similar to Angkor Wat it will remove any reason to wanting visit it!

Angkor Wat is just a huge tourist site with absolutely no atmosphere left - the only thing being whordes of japanese tourist pushing everyone out of their way!

I guess they haven't installed the supposedly planned escalator in Angkor Wat yet?

Sorry for all those folks who loved it - I absolutely loathed it had more enjoyable days sitting on buses in Lao!

I really don't appreciate having "1 DOLLAR" screamed down my ears every 5 yards either!

[howtoescape]

Well if they 'develop' it in a way similar to Angkor Wat it will remove any reason to wanting visit it!

Angkor Wat is just a huge tourist site with absolutely no atmosphere left - the only thing being whordes of japanese tourist pushing everyone out of their way!

Thats a bit contradictory, if there is no reason to visit then there cant possibly be hordes of japanese tourists.

I take it youre one of them tourists who dislikes other tourists and tourist resorts.

Give credit where credit is due they are taking the gamble investing in the local infrastructure in the hope that the temple will become a major tourist hotspot, and add another string to the countries tourism industry, cant see any reason to be negative about it. I just hope someone will put a Starbucks and a Mcdonalds there.

[dumball]

Well if they 'develop' it in a way similar to Angkor Wat it will remove any reason to wanting visit it!

Angkor Wat is just a huge tourist site with absolutely no atmosphere left - the only thing being whordes of japanese tourist pushing everyone out of their way!

Thats a bit contradictory, if there is no reason to visit then there cant possibly be hordes of japanese tourists.

I take it youre one of them tourists who dislikes other tourists and tourist resorts.

Give credit where credit is due they are taking the gamble investing in the local infrastructure in the hope that the temple will become a major tourist hotspot, and add another string to the countries tourism industry, cant see any reason to be negative about it. I just hope someone will put a Starbucks and a Mcdonalds there.

I guess you are both correct in your own way of thinking , other pushy tourists can detract from the attraction of any site .Investing in the local infrastructure would be great , but where else has the powers that be in Cambodia done that ? Infrastructure translates into hotels built by outside money whilst the local effort is to bring in more poor people to polute the area with thier discarded garbage , oh , and please do not forget the importance of pumping out ground water to destoy the temples foundation , need to keep things in perspective here .

[howtoescape]

^^^^ I was brought up visiting Northumberland in the North east of England where there are more castles then in any other part of the country, and there are roads and hotels surrounding every single castle they havent done them any harm, if anything the tourists money ensures the upkeep of them.

In your answer to where else have the Cambodian done this, i wouldnt have a clue but maybe this is the start as after all it is what is politically described as a developing country.

If it creates jobs it is a good thing is it not.

[enyaw]

^^^^ I was brought up visiting Northumberland in the North east of England where there are more castles then in any other part of the country, and there are roads and hotels surrounding every single castle they havent done them any harm, if anything the tourists money ensures the upkeep of them.

In your answer to where else have the Cambodian done this, i wouldnt have a clue but maybe this is the start as after all it is what is politically described as a developing country.

If it creates jobs it is a good thing is it not.

Creating jobs is of course a good thing but you have to consider the effects, the booming growth of hotels around the Angkor wat complext is now apparently sending the ruins quickly into ruined.

[cclub75]

Well if they 'develop' it in a way similar to Angkor Wat it will remove any reason to wanting visit it!

Angkor Wat is just a huge tourist site with absolutely no atmosphere left - the only thing being whordes of japanese tourist pushing everyone out of their way!

I guess they haven't installed the supposedly planned escalator in Angkor Wat yet?

I agree. But i think there is nothing to do... At one point, they will have to choose between closing Angkor, to protect it, or to close their eyes and continue...

Easy to guess which solution they would choose...

So, yes Angkor is now terrible to visit. But anyway, you need to visit it now. Because tomorrow it will be even worse.

[mikethevigoman]

Cambodia to develop Preah Vihear into tourism spot

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Cambodian government will develop the Preah Vihear temple near the border with Thailand into a tourism spot, local press reported Tuesday.

The move is part of the Cambodian government's efforts to reach its goal of attracting 3 million tourists annually by 2010.

Hang Soth, general director of the newly-established Preah Vihear National Authority, said that roads and infrastructure should be developed first so as to attract tourists.

"The aim of our development is to attract tourists and preserve the temple," he said.

"Tourists will not be able to reach the Preah Vihear temple if the potential area is not developed," Tourism Minister Thong Khon said.

Currently, the temple is more easily accessed via Thailand. A cliff makes access difficult from the Cambodian side of the temple.

The temple is expected to rival the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province after development is completed, Soth said.

Peter

Note: That's a fairly strong claim that the Preah Vihear temple is expected to rival the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province after development is completed. Have any ThaiVisa members visited the Preah Vihear temple?

Funny this, i was there last month and the casinos are nearly finished ! tourists ? thai gamblers more like

[technocracy]

Well if they 'develop' it in a way similar to Angkor Wat it will remove any reason to wanting visit it!

Angkor Wat is just a huge tourist site with absolutely no atmosphere left - the only thing being whordes of japanese tourist pushing everyone out of their way!

Thats a bit contradictory, if there is no reason to visit then there cant possibly be hordes of japanese tourists.

I take it youre one of them tourists who dislikes other tourists and tourist resorts.

Give credit where credit is due they are taking the gamble investing in the local infrastructure in the hope that the temple will become a major tourist hotspot, and add another string to the countries tourism industry, cant see any reason to be negative about it. I just hope someone will put a Starbucks and a Mcdonalds there.

Funny guy.

No I don't dislike tourists or tourist resorts in general - however I do dislike tourist sites that have had their heart and soul ripped out of them purely for the sake of the $ - particularly religious/temple sites. Angkor Wat being a prime example of this - no such thing as Eco-tourism in Cambodia - if they want to make a buck they stick ashphalt roads through everything stick loads of annoying restaurants/stalls everywhere that make you stay even less pleasureable and just let anyone do whatever they want regardless of what damage it might cause. I have been to numerous tourist site religious/temple sites and have enjoyed many since they have kept the religious/repsectful aspect to them however Angkor Wat in my opinion has been overrun and completely spoilt by uncontrolled tourism.

All I can say is I hope you were being sarcastic about Starbucks or McDonalds! If Cambodia has to resort to having these places in site then they are obviously missing something in culture!

Edited March 27, 2008 by technocracy

[Thaicoon]

First time i visited there was about 11 years ago, been there a few times since, it still had various guns and shells around the place, and the old cambodian crashed heicopter at the top, which was an attraction in itself, but i believe it has now gone, lets hope they do not overdo the place, it is nice as it is.

Edited March 27, 2008 by Thaicoon