RECOVERY ROADMAP
Throughout the pandemic, tourism-related companies have been boosted by various ranges of tax reduction whereas these within the trade who misplaced their jobs got US$40 in month-to-month payouts.
However past such handouts, the federal government wanted extra stable plans to chart its restoration from the devastating results of COVID-19.
Enter an bold roadmap laid out by Cambodia’s tourism ministry in 2021.
In Angkor Wat, the Apsara Nationwide Authority used the downtime to refresh elements of the temple. And all this whereas, everybody saved their jobs: Not a single employee out of the greater than 4,000 at Angkor Wat was dismissed, mentioned spokesperson Lengthy Kosal.
As a substitute, they have been put to work. “Previous to the pandemic, we noticed many guests from all around the world, roaming across the temple. There was no time for the temple to relaxation,” Mr Lengthy Kosal mentioned.
“One of many enhancements we made (through the downtime) was a sprinkler system in order that we are able to water the grass through the dry season, so it’s all the time inexperienced.”
The doorway of Angkor Wat was additionally cleaned up. Stalls, beforehand clustered close to the doorway, have been moved to a different space.
Apsara Nationwide Authority can be wanting into bettering walkways and making them extra wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
On high of that, Apsara Nationwide Authority plans to jumpstart native cultural excursions round Angkor Wat and in Siem Reap.
There are plans to revive ox cart excursions that may ply close by villages the place vacationers can see native craftsmen at work, making conventional drums out of tree trunks and picket toy souvenirs.
Cambodia’s grasp plan consists of bettering the nation’s linkages by dashing up the constructing of a brand new worldwide airport within the capital Phnom Penh and developing extra roads and bridges.
When accomplished, it’s hoped that such infrastructure might help divert vacationers to the less-explored elements of Cambodia.
CALL OF THE WILD
Whereas overseas guests slowed to a trickle through the two-year lockdown, native vacationers supplied some much-needed reduction for the battered trade.
For all of 2020 and 2021, round 300,000 individuals visited eco-tourism sights. In 2021 alone, the determine went as much as a couple of half million.
Cambodian Ministry of Atmosphere Secretary of State Neth Pheaktra mentioned he hopes locals – who’ve began appreciating pure websites in their very own yard – might help unfold the phrase to the remainder of the world.
“Ecotourism is essential for us as a result of they’re new locations tapping the panorama of Cambodia,” Mr Pheaktra mentioned.
“We now have forests, rice fields, group dwelling. They’ll doubtlessly entice extra overseas vacationers to go to whereas getting the locals to like their nation on the similar time.”
This text was initially printed by channelnewsasia.com. Learn the authentic article right here.
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