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Cultural pride

Cambodian tourists are increasingly filling the gaps in the industry and fueling its growth, thanks to their growing historical curiosity and national pride.

The director of the Siem Reap Provincial Department of Tourism, Thim Sereyvuth, highlighted the importance of educating young residents about their heritage.

"Guides now offer tours to local students, enhancing a deeper understanding of real history, including topics like the monarchy, Brahmanism, Buddhism, temple styles, architecture, mythology and the various wars that are depicted in the engravings of each temple," Sereyvuth said.

This means more Cambodians are learning to understand and appreciate their culture more deeply, he said.

While the number of tourists remains modest, tour guides are now focusing on local visitors, with many of them helping the profession survive and thrive.

The situation has allowed guides and visitors to benefit from each other. Visitors who previously were not interested in the historical narratives are now gaining a deeper understanding of temple sculptures, while the guides can continue in their work.