Night Market, Siem Reap. Cambodia has become better equipped for dealing with a wider variety of tourists. On my first flight into Siem Reap the flight was dominated by a group of middle-aged Americans my age group and we were all slightly adventurous by nature, but also seekers of comfort.
Wewere here primarily to see Angkor, and besides these temples and the big hotels, the local visitor infrastructure was not well developed.
This month my Bangkok Airways flight was populated by backpackers from Spain and Mexico, a pair of Russian honeymooners, a conference of solar energy experts from as far afield as Germany and Myanmar and many others. I was quite the eavesdropper! The flight prepared me to expect some changes in Siem Reap. The biggest single change, as far as tourists are concerned, is the development of the lovely Night Markets which offer god food, good artisan crafts and silks β and, being open at night, shopping at a lovely romantic temperature.
Balmy but not sweltering. The walk from Pub Street is colorful and safe. But what the night markets represent is the way that Cambodia has become more organised for tourists. Instead of being a single-sight destination Angkor temples Siem Reap is offering more to do and experience. This is vital because tourist spending is one of the economic lifebloods of Cambodia cheap garment production is the main export earner and the battle is not only to encourage tourists to spend more, but to stay more than the average β eight years ago β of just three or four days.
Previously tourists would fly in, stay at an expensive hotel whose profits went back to foreign owners and apart from some tuktuk rides and some spending at local westernised restuarants, and tour guides β very few other dollars flowed into the economy. These days there are more places to see and more things to experience.
