8 ways to make a Cambodia trip more rewarding - and more responsible
How can your clients ensure that
their travels in Cambodia have a positive impact? Our tips series from
Justin Francis, managing director of Responsibletravel.com, continues
with a look at the south-east Asian destination
Source: ND Strupler
There’s
a reason that the temples of Angkor Wat are proudly displayed on the
Cambodian flag; not even the tourist crowds can take away from the sheer
magnificence of this vast complex.
But don’t be fooled into
thinking Angkor Wat is it for Cambodia; rather than an extension to a
Thailand holiday, the country offers an insight into authentic
south-east Asia in its own right.
And while the scars of the Khmer
Rouge regime remain, this is a country lit up now by friendliness and
smiles of the Khmer people. As tourists here your clients will be part
of a complex equation of poverty and hope, and you will need to ensure
they have a positive impact on the local communities they meet.
Here are some tips to share with your clients and some issues to consider before you book them:
1. Quality temple time
Remind
clients that Angkor Wat is just one in a vast complex of ancient
monasteries. Taking the time to explore further reveals more ruins and a
chance for clients to follow in explorers’ footsteps and discover their
own hidden jungle temples.
2. Consider Kep
If your
clients are after a Cambodian beach break, suggest Kep. Look for
responsible ground agents, which have programmes that include this
little fishing town, slowly coming back to life after almost being
destroyed in the war. It’s a white-sand idyll, and a refreshing
alternative to over-developed, seedy Sihanoukville.
3. Don’t hug an orphan
Siem
Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, has a population of just 100,000
people, yet has 35 orphanages, a number that has increased in line with
tourism.
Urge
your ground agents to remove any orphanage visits from their
programmes, and if they, you or your clients are moved to help, consider
supporting local NGOs working to place children in family environments
instead.
4. Stamp out child sex tourism
Child exploitation
and child sex tourism is a real problem in Cambodia. Over a third of
the country’s sex workers are estimated to be under 18 and there are no
specific laws prohibiting the prostitution of children.
Play your part in stamping this out by ensuring your ground agents only use hotels that are ChildSafe certified, meaning they will not allow tourists to bring local children into the hotel, and will report anyone seen with a local child.
Also
encourage your clients to report suspected cases of sexual exploitation
to hotel owners or call the police hotline - 023 997 919.
5. Conservative customs
Although
strappy tops and short shorts tend to be the uniform of the backpacker
crowd in Cambodia, the country is deeply religious, much of it without
mass tourism, and still very conservative. Save the tanning for the
beach or hotel pool and advise your clients to cover shoulders and even
ankles when out and about, and especially when visiting temples.
6. Look, but don’t touch
In
Buddhist culture the head is the “highest” most revered part of the
body, conversely the soles of the feet the “lowest”. To avoid causing
serious offence your clients should take care not to point their feet at
a person or religious object, and should avoid touching a Cambodian’s
head. Also advise your clients never to touch a monk and that men should
not touch Cambodian women.
7. Take more respectful photos
The
smiles from the Khmer people are very photogenic, but encourage your
clients to ask permission before taking pictures. Rather than hide
behind a camera, for the best images they need to talk and engage with
their subject first - more respectful and much more rewarding.
8. Get your caffeine fix
Phnom
Penh’s Russian Market sells phenomenal iced coffee. Tell your clients
to look out for a small stall with a handwritten sign saying “Probably
the best iced coffee in the world”. It probably is.
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