The Fondazione Santagata is conducting a research on the socio-economic impact of the Angkor Archaeological Park, UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992.
Context
Angkor is Cambodia’s most important archaeological site, and one of the most relevant in Asia. From the IX to the XV century it served as the capital of the Khmer Kingdom, both as the political and religious center.
The city of Siem Reap is the main access point to the site, and it was built in the 1920s as the turist flow of the area increased.
Due to its fame, Angkor has been at the center of many international conservation and restoration projects over the years. After the UNESCO recognition, an extensive campaign was carried out by UNESCO, EFEO (École Française d’Extrême-Orient), japanese teams, World Monuments Fund and the “German Apsara Conservation Project”, with the coordination of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC).
Partners
Fondazione Santagata is conducting the study in collaboration with the Phnom Penh UNESCO Office.
Impact
The study is being carried out under the 25-year celebrations of the UNESCO recognition. It aims at defining and quantifying the main direct, indirect and induced impacts of the site itself and of the interventions for its conservation and valorization.
The impact study is a useful document for future planning and interventions; it is proposed as a tool for decision makers to define and address the right priorities in order to rationalize the benefits of the economies linked to the site, especially those related to tourism.