As the entire world anticipates a comeback in international tours and travel, it’s no wonder Siem Reap has been making waves among trending destinations for 2023 based on TripAdvisor survey results.
Known to be the home of UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat, it is a refined melting pot of modern attractions, rustic scenery, and centuries-old temples that take visitors ages back in time.
This wealth of variety in what to see and do in Siem Reap, especially coming from a pandemic that cooped people up inside their homes, is just one of the many factors that landed it on the fourth spot among top trending destinations around the world.
Following the Lunar New Year celebrations, the Ministry of Tourism reported that the city alone exceeded 105,400 visitors, 15,400 of which were foreigners.
Demonstrating there is yet plenty to be discovered in the Kingdom, these figures were topped by Preah Sihanouk (also known as Sihanoukville), surpassing 296,000 travelers and over 7,300 foreigners during the same time period. Battambang, southwest of Siem Reap, was close, having received over 102,000 visitors.
Cambodia’s Indochinese neighbors, Vietnam and Thailand, are also found at second and fifth place on TripAdvisor’s list, an indication of growing interest in the Southeast Asia region among global travelers.
At the top of the list is Cuba, also home to a UNESCO World Heritage (the town of Trinidad), followed by Hoi An, Vietnam; Mauritius, Africa; Siem Reap, Cambodia; and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
It is notable that the cities dominating the 25-strong list present some of the most idyllic scenery and laidback atmospheres you can get among popular tourist spots.
This reflects a common theme among travelers this year: a desire for the calmer and less complicated, perhaps drawn out after almost two (2) years defined by restricted movement and heightened reliance on technology.
With sunrise and sunset tours, local cooking classes, temple-hopping for adventure tourism, and still a healthy amount of retail therapy available at Pub Street and nearby commercial chains, it is only fitting for Siem Reap to be among the Best of the Best.
KH