Cambodia Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cambodia - Assignment Example cribed as a third-world nation, its people poor and most towns ragged and dirty but its natural beauty and ancient architecture make it a tourist destination. Angkor Wat, located in province of Siem Reap, was built in the 1200’s to honor the god Vishnu. It served as the capital and state temple of the Khmer Empire, an ancient nation that was almost as large as all of present day Southeast Asia. Discovered by French explorers during the 18th Century, the ancient structure of Angkor Wat (translated as â€Å"Temple City†) is considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World. The height of classical Khmer architectural style and grandeur, Angkor Wat is a national symbol appearing prominently on the Cambodian flag. The Killing Fields refer to several places where massive numbers of people were massacred and buried by the Khmer Rouge, a regime that took control following the Cambodian Revolution in the mid-‘70’s. By the end of its reign of terror in 1979 more than a million had been brutally butchered, people considered dangerous such as intellectuals and those aligned with the previous government. (â€Å"Travel and T ourism,†2001). Tourism has made a comeback in Cambodia following the end of political unrest in neighboring Thailand two years ago. Many tourists, about one-third, enter Cambodia through Bangkok, Thailand. The government is promoting ecotourism, both encouraging visitors while sustaining the natural beauty and quiet serenity of its more than 800 ancient temples. Tourists enjoy both daytime and nighttime excursions of Cambodian temples and other heritage sites. What may be the more attractive feature of Cambodia are the areas that have yet to be discovered. The city of Sihanoukville, located on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand has recently become a tourist destination. The government reopened the airport there and is redeveloping the city in addition to encouraging the building of hotels, shopping centers and a casino that opened just last year.