Garnering global recognition, the Kingdom was bestowed with two honours at the recent World Travel Awards in the Philippines.
Cambodia was crowned the leading cultural destination in Asia in addition to Asia’s leading youth tourism destination at the awards held on Tuesday in Manila.
The twin triumphs are all the more noteworthy given that this marks three consecutive years of double triumphs at the prestigious event. The crowning glory of Asia’s leading cultural destination beat out rivals, the likes of giants India and Japan, in addition to Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Up to 2019, neighbouring Vietnam has notched two wins, Thailand a solitary one while Cambodia hit double victory.
As the victor in the leading youth travel destination segment, Cambodia amassed a greater number of votes than Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. A double triumph was claimed by Laos, one by Thailand and another double by Cambodia including the last two.
The year 2024 also saw Siem Reap in the running for the Most Romantic Destination in Asia. However, together with Thailand’s Koh Samui, the city of Angkor Wat lost out to Bali in Indonesia.
In the framework of Cambodia in the year 2024, Avis was named the leading car company, while Capri by Fraser took the honour in the Leading Hotel segment. Park Hyatt Siem Reap’s Presidential Suite bagged the Leading Hotel Suite crown. Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor was named the Leading Resort while Song Saa Private Island took the crown as the leading villa resort.
Satguru Travel Cambodia won the leading travel agency title.
“Our new ‘Curated Journeys’ programme is perhaps one reason for this honour,” Joseph Colina, General Manager, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor told Khmer Times on Thursday. “These excursions, launched earlier this year, showcase the very best of Siem Reap’s rich history and culture, offering guests unique ways to explore the ancient archaeological sites of Angkor and much more,” he added.
This dual achievement not only elevates Cambodia’s profile on the global stage but also presents a strategic opportunity to sustain and build on its momentum in promoting culture, history
and nature-based adventure experiences, said Stefan Hanselmann, Program Director of GIZ ICONE. By leveraging these accolades, Cambodia is well-positioned to deepen its investment in targeted destination marketing, further enhancing its appeal to culturally-inclined and adventure-seeking youth travellers.
Suggesting ways to capitalise on the opportunity, Jeremie Clement, General Manager, Peninsula Phnom Penh said, “The country has long attracted visitors for its rich history and cultural sites, but this new recognition adds a fresh, fun dimension to its image. Cambodia can create more engaging promotions and videos on social media, inviting well-known influencers to showcase its vibrant side.”
By combining its authentic charm with a modern, lively appeal, Cambodia can attract a wider range of tourists, from cultural enthusiasts to younger travellers looking for dynamic experiences.
This approach benefits both the traditional tourism sector and new opportunities for growth, he added.
