Cambodia Unveils Plan to Make Sambor Prei Kuk Key Phnom Penh–Angkor Tourism Corridor

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 31, 2025) — Cambodia has launched a major tourism plan to transform the Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex in Kampong Thom province into a central corridor linking Phnom Penh and Angkor, aiming to extend visitor stays and drive local economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth said the initiative is a flagship program under the Kampong Thom Tourism Development Plan 2026–2030, aligned with Prime Minister Hun Manet’s vision to shift Kampong Thom from a transit stop into a core destination along the Phnom Penh–Sambor Prei Kuk–Angkor route.

The plan outlines four priorities: enhancing Sambor Prei Kuk’s appeal, developing a digital tourism experience, launching a promotion campaign titled “Sambor Prei Kuk: Pre-Angkorian Chenla,” and improving service quality under the national “Clean City, Clean Village, Clean Resort, Good Services, Good Hospitality” campaign.

Authorities aim to convert Sambor Prei Kuk from a brief stopover into a destination where visitors stay at least one night. Upgrades will include community markets, homestays, visitor facilities, bicycle paths, sanitation, and public hygiene. Boeng Pring Lake will be developed as a wellness tourism site.

The government also plans a Sambor Prei Kuk Information Center and Museum to showcase Chenla heritage, alongside improved roads, electricity, clean water, and internet services to attract more domestic and international visitors and support sustainable community livelihoods.