Introducing a new digital application for tourism products and services in Siem Reap - SIEM REAP WONDER

On January 26, 2024, Siem Reap Tourism Club Association (STC) launched an innovative digital program aimed at promoting tourism products and services in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This program, in collaboration with Siem Reap Wonder, a comprehensive tourism app, is set to drive sustainability, creativity, and enhanced traveler experiences in the region. With the support of government officials and the private sector, this initiative aligns with the goals of the Ministry of Tourism and represents a significant step towards embracing the digital era.

Mr. Phillip Set Kao, President of Siem Reap Tourism Club & Siem Reap Wonder, emphasized the crucial role played by Siem Reap Wonder and STC vendors in supporting the sustainability and creativity of tourism in Siem Reap. The program aims to provide an increased potential for growth and facilitate access to information for travelers, both before and after their visit to Siem Reap. 

    source: Facebook

On 20th March 2024, Mr. Philip will be speaking at the Third Webinar organized by UNESCO focusing on "Using Digital Tools for Community-Based Tourism."  

H.E. Yun Linne, the Deputy Governor of Siem Reap Province, acknowledged the significant contribution of the Siem Reap Wonder website and mobile applications developed by STC in promoting tourism potential and community ecotourism products. These digital platforms serve to showcase various tourism activities to both national and international tourists. 

source: Facebook

H.E. Heng Sok Chamroeun, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism, expressed his support for the STC Vendors program, highlighting its alignment with the ministry's goals and vision. He emphasized that this collaborative effort demonstrates the private sector's commitment to improving society and bolstering the national economy. This initiative also reflects the industry's readiness to embrace the digital revolution of Industry 4.0  source: Facebook

and navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.

Siem Reap Wonder Application

Siem Reap Wonder Website

Siem Reap Wonder, the primary platform of the STC Vendors program, offers a multiple of services and features aimed at enhancing the tourist experience in Siem Reap:

• About Siem Reap: The app offers comprehensive and up-to-date information about Siem Reap attractions, restaurants, hotels, and nightlife. Users can also find practical information regarding weather, currency, transportation, and safety tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit to Siem Reap.

• Happening Now: This feature enables users to stay updated on the latest events and activities taking place in Siem Reap. Divided into different categories such as arts, music, sports, and festivals, users can easily browse and book tickets for events that pique their interest.

• Things to Do: Users can explore the diverse range of attractions and activities available in Siem Reap, including the iconic Angkor temples, floating villages, and vibrant night markets. The app provides valuable tips and recommendations from fellow travelers who have visited these attractions.

• Tour Guide: The app allows users to find and book professional tour guides who can provide personalized tours, sharing the rich history and culture of Siem Reap. Users can choose guides based on language preferences, themes, and prices, with access to reviews and ratings from other customers.

• Transportation: The Transportation feature provides valuable information and resources related to transportation options in Siem Reap. Users can access details about public transportation services, including buses and taxis, as well as private transportation options such as car rentals and chauffeur services. This feature helps travelers plan their journeys, navigate the city, and explore various attractions conveniently and efficiently.

• Media Center: The Media Center feature serves as a hub for multimedia content related to Siem Reap. It includes sections such as Press Releases, Galleries, Video Promotions, Digital Brochures, and Oversea Media. The Media Center feature allows users to stay informed and get a glimpse of the wonders that Siem Reap has to offer.

• Eat & Drink: The Eat & Drink feature provides a comprehensive guide to dining options in Siem Reap. Users can explore a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and bars, offering diverse cuisines and culinary experiences that includes information about the establishments' specialties, menus, operating hours, and user reviews. Whether travelers are seeking authentic local dishes, international cuisine, or unique dining experiences, this feature helps them discover and choose dining venues that suit their preferences and tastes.

• E-Visa: The E-Visa feature facilitates the online application process for travelers who require a visa to enter Cambodia. Users can access the E-Visa section within the app, where they will find detailed information about the visa requirements, application process, and fees. The E-Visa feature streamlines the visa application process, making it more accessible and user-friendly for visitors planning to explore Siem Reap.

Siem Reap Wonder is reshaping the way we experience travel, making it more accessible, informative, and immersive. Stay tuned for further updates and be sure to download the Siem Reap Wonder app to unlock the wonders of this captivating city.

For Android For IOS

Link To Siem Reap Wonder Website

Link To Siem Reap Tourism Club Website

The upcoming 8th River Festival in Siem Reap.

Before we conclude, we want to remind you about the upcoming 8th River Festival in Siem Reap. It's happening on March 16-17, 2024, by the end of this week, and it's going to be a remarkable event! The festival brings together experts and organizations to protect and develop our rivers. You can expect traditional music, lively dances, delicious local food, and more. Make sure you don't miss out on this exceptional celebration!

Source: Phnom Penh Post

Ministry gears up for 8th River Festival in Siem Reap - Khmer Times (khmertimeskh.com)

And speaking of Siem Reap, did you know that b. Consulting was founded right here in Siem Reap in 2017? We take great pride in being part of this wonderful city and are dedicated to promoting Siem Reap as an outstanding destination. With its magnificent temples and welcoming people, Siem Reap offers unforgettable experiences for travelers from all over the world.

---

How Heritage Landmarks Are Treasured Into Food & Beverage Outlets

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in Southeast Asian countries to transform heritage landmarks and deserted infrastructures into food and beverage outlets. From colonial-era buildings to traditional marketplaces, these heritage sites are being revitalized as vibrant culinary destinations that preserve local culture and attract tourists and locals alike.

This technique of re-building and restoring these magnificent infrastructure destinations is called 'Adaptive Reuse'. 

What is 'Adaptive Reuse'?

Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an existing building for a purpose other than which it was originally built or designed for. The main benefits of adaptive reuse include preserving historical and cultural heritage, transforming neglected areas into vibrant communities, and promoting social change. 

Adaptive reuse concept conserves resources and can breathe new life into neglected or underutilized spaces. A space that confides the history and adds a new character to a place.

Starbucks Kampot, Cambodia

Source: Starbucks Cambodia Opens Its First Store in the Heart of Kampot City, Showcasing a Blend of Modern and Traditional Design - Khmer Times 

The Starbucks Kampot – Fish Market was one of the first infrastructures to undergo refurbishment in Cambodia. The food and beverage establishment featured a unique architectural style that combines local materials and motifs with Starbucks' signature branding. The store's interior includes wooden accents and greenery inspired by Kampot's natural surroundings while also incorporating Starbucks' signature green color. With a blend of modern and traditional design, this revitalized infrastructure was once a "Fish Market" (ផ្សារត្រី) or wet market that has stood in the heart of Kampot City since the French colonial era back in the 1930s. 

This store is part of Starbucks' expansion into the Southeast Asia market as it seeks to tap into the region's growing demand for coffee and premium hospitality experiences. The adaptive reuse of a historic building in the heart of Kampot highlights how businesses can leverage local culture and history to attract sustainable tourism while contributing to the preservation of architectural heritage.

Address: Starbucks Fish Market

https://maps.app.goo.gl/P4HpFmUjmr4ZMTBV7 

Sarnies Bangkok, Thailand

Source: 6 must-visit Bangkok cafes housed in historic buildings

Sarnies Bangkok is a franchise of a coffee shop based originally in Singapore. In 2018, they set up an outpost in Bangkok, Thailand. The coffee shop serves food paired with drinks of contemporary and a fusion of Thai and Australian cuisines. Originally, a two-story boat repair shop that had been abandoned for 150 years was converted into a coffee shop on Charoenkrung Road, Bangkok. By preserving the building's original design and repurposing it for a new use, Sarnies has not only created a unique and memorable dining experience for its customers but has also contributed to the revitalization of the surrounding area. 

What started off as a boat-repair shop now serves as a coffee shop as well as a place for locals and tourists to get traditional local food with a fusion twist. The use of locally sourced ingredients and freshly roasted coffee further enhances the hospitality aspect by providing guests with high-quality, delicious meals and drinks. Sarnies Bangkok's adaptive reuse initiative showcases the potential for transforming underutilized spaces into vibrant and successful food and beverage establishments.

Address: Sarnies Bangkok

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WKZvT7CxaVHktE9WA

Place de la Poste (Van’s Restaurant), Cambodia

Source: Top 10 Colonial Buildings in Phnom Penh 

Nestled beside the iconic Wat Phnom in the heart of Phnom Penh lies Palais de la Poste, formerly known as Van's Restaurant. This French-European fine dining establishment boasts a rich history dating back to the late 1800s when it served as both the French Protectorate and the Bank of Indochina. The Van's family later reacquired the estate and transformed the site into a gastronomic haven in 2007, showcasing their expertise in hospitality in food and beverage. 

Source: Google Maps Images 

Palais de la Poste's adaptive reuse is a testament to the city's evolution, preserving Cambodia's heritage and history while offering a luxurious dining experience to patrons. The location's decor is adorned with elegance and a serene garden setting that transports diners to a world of sophistication and refinement. Palais de la Poste's commitment to hospitality and culinary excellence has earned it a reputation as one of the premier dining destinations in Phnom Penh.

Address: Palais de la Poste

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oGzTqm23v8EcWbA86

FCC Angkor by Avani, Cambodia

Source: Hotels Siem Reap Cambodia | FCC Angkor by Avani Official Site 

FCC Angkor by Avani is a 4 stars hotel and resort that combines colonial heritage with modern charm, situated in the lively and historic city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. This site once stood as the grand mansion of a French colonial governor, which later transformed into the renowned Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) – a spot where international journalists and notable figures gathered. Today, it stands to provide a majestic experience for local and global travelers to enjoy the historic estate.

The hotel provides exceptional food and beverage, showcasing both Khmer cuisine and international dishes. This array of dishes offered not only enhances guests' experiences but also pays homage to Siem Reap's vibrant food culture. FCC Angkor by Avani demonstrates its dedication to preserving the region's architectural heritage through the adaptive reuse of the historic site. The restoration process prioritized maintaining the cultural foundations of the property and its community and was under the guidance of Malee Whitcraft and Bloom Architecture. 

From a former governor's mansion to FCC estate, now a luxurious hospitality destination, it successfully merges the area's rich history with contemporary comforts, delivering an unforgettable stay for its guests.

Address: FCC Angkor by Avani

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eiXhDjtdMwCpqXcq8 

Royal Train Cafe (កាហ្វេរថភ្លើង), Cambodia

Source: ​All aboard cafe train that takes travellers nowhere | Phnom Penh Post 

The Royal Train Cafe (កាហ្វេរថភ្លើង), still an operating bustling railway station located in the middle of Phnom Penh city, has been transformed into a cozy coffee shop that transports patrons back in time. The cafe's vintage decor, including antique train carriages, steam engines, and railway memorabilia, creates a unique ambience that blends history with modern hospitality. The menu offers a variety of beverages, snacks, and light meals, making it an ideal spot for travelers, locals, or anyone seeking a 'back to the oldies' experience in Cambodia. 

The adaptive reuse of this historic site demonstrates the potential for transforming underutilized spaces into thriving businesses, showcasing the creativity of the hospitality industry in repurposing old structures for new uses that cater both to history buffs and contemporary tastes.

Address: Royal Train Cafe (កាហ្វេរថភ្លើង)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VY8QneZhL4mbcByF6 

The Cafe Apartments, Vietnam

Source: Saigon café apartment building featured on National Geographic UK | Tuoi Tre News 

The Cafe Apartment is located in Ho Chi Minh City. With original purpose was a 9-story apartment block rented out for tenants, constructed in the mid-60s, now adapted to a cluster of coffee establishments. With the evolving time of trends and estates, said tenants, from 2010 have moved out and leased their spaces to businesses and coffee shops. As of 2020, there are over 30 businesses, all of which offer great spots to watch the vibrant Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street. Though most operate as a coffee shop, some establishments serve cuisines from Japanese to local Vietnamese street food. 

Today it serves as a tourist attraction in Saigo with bookstores, salons, cafes, boutiques, tea houses and more. This innovative approach to hospitality through adaptive reuse not only provides unique dining experiences but also helps to revitalize urban areas and promote sustainable development.

Address: 42 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NQ5bxjjzowyCVSxw8

These adaptive establishments demonstrate how heritage landmarks and estates are being treasured. This concept not only preserves local culture but also promotes tourism and economic development within the food and beverage sector and Southeast Asian countries. 

With our initiative, and our recent involvement in the UNESCO seminar held in regional Nan, Thailand, focused on 'Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative City Network in Waterway Cities'. b. Consulting Food and Beverage Hospitality Tourism Experts Cambodia is ready to collaborate in transforming heritage sites into vibrant culinary destinations namely into vibrant Hotels, Coffee shops or Restaurants that showcase the country's culture and historical background.

---

Contact b.Consulting

(+855) 10 518 700

Email address: contact@bconsultingcambodia.com

Achieving Sustainable Tourism in ASEAN's Waterway Cities: A Series Of Webinars and Workshops

Cultivating Tourism in ASEAN's Waterway Cities and Creative City Network: A Conversation with Montakarn Suvanatap Kittipaisalsilp, Programme Officer for Culture at UNESCO Bangkok

"Fostering meaningful dialogues on sustainable tourism."

• What inspired the collaboration behind this project, 'Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative City Network in Waterway Cities of ASEAN'?

It has been a mutual interest between Thailand’s Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) and UNESCO, since their first Memorandum of Understanding in 2014, to work together to safeguard living heritage (intangible cultural heritage / ICH), promote more cities to UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and to expand partnerships with private and public sectors and civil society on sustainable tourism. With the recent financial support from ASEAN-Türkiye Cooperation, CRIHAP and K11, we are able to achieve this aspiration. This year (2024) marks the first phase of this sub-regional project, which is hoped to continue for longer term. It therefore aims to revitalize the network of people working to develop community-based tourism using local cultural assets – i.e. existing living heritage and creative products and services.

• How does this webinar contribute to the promoting and development of sustainable tourism in the ASEAN waterside cities?

The project team realize that one webinar cannot manage to promote and advance the sustainable tourism. So when we designed the project, we designed the whole series of engaging discussions that address important questions still in the minds of people working on or supporting sustainable tourism – particularly those concerning community-based tourism efforts. We hope that by setting a clear and continuous goal to stimulate conversation among tourism professionals in different countries can lead to actual and lasting networking that they can all maintain beyond the life of this humble project.

• What can attendees expect to gain from the insights and knowledge shared during the webinar?

First you will get to listen to and learn from experiences – good and bad ones – of those we at UNESCO and DASTA have regarded as experts in the field of cultural heritage, community-based tourism, cultural and creative industries, etc. Our webinars are designed to provide you with opportunities to directly talk to these panelists with encouraging moderated session for you to voice your questions, concerns and stories. We believe that what is equally important to knowledge is to have friends, and we aim to provide chances for you to meet your like-minded new friends.

• In what ways do you envision this collaboration to impact the future of sustainable tourism initiatives in ASEAN waterway cities such as Cambodia?

We hope that by introducing this international project, a country can see that it does not need to counter challenges or progress alone. Cambodia is a country equipped with dynamic and creative people who are ready to absorb new ideas from elsewhere and contextualize them for local solutions. We would like to encourage more tourism professionals in Cambodia to exploit this networking project and find allies in helping you reshaping how people travelling in your country, using your resources in a more sustainable and beneficial way to your local communities.

• How will the selection process for the webinar program be conducted, and what are the eligibility criteria for individuals interested in applying?

For all 6 webinars, all tourism professionals working in all ASEAN countries are eligible to participate. But for the on-site workshop in Thailand, which we plan to launch the call for applications on Friday 24 November, only tourism professionals working in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand are eligible to apply, yet regardless of their nationalities. This means as long as their works are in and benefit the three countries, they can apply. The application form, I have to say, is quite long and challenging, as it was designed by our team of experienced facilitators. They will be the ones reading your applications and select the 30 people from the 3 countries for UNESCO to fully fund their participation.

• Could you provide additional information about the webinars that are planned up until June 2024 related to this project initiative, 'Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative City Network in Waterway Cities of ASEAN' ?

The line up of exciting webinars are:

• Webinar 1 | 24 November 2023: Unlocking Potential: Is Community-Based Tourism a Sustainable Business Model in ASEAN Waterway Locales?

• Webinar 2 | 3 February 2024: Sustainable Gastronomical Experience in UNESCO Locales (Coinciding with an immersive workshop in Thailand’s vibrant Bangkok and Nan Old City, 3–7 February 2024)

• Webinar 3 | 20 March 2024: Harnessing Digital Tools for Greater Community Involvement in the Tourism Narrative

• Webinar 4 | 10 April 2024: Exploring Sustainable Festival and Event Tourism as a Growth Driver

• Webinar 5 | 29 May 2024: Sharing Indigenous Stories and Experiences from the Source of Rivers for a More Profound Tourism Journey

• Webinar 6 | 19 June 2024: Addressing the Challenge of Plastic Use in Travel: From Policy Formulation to Practical Application

Click Here For More Information and Webinar Agenda

---

Join the first webinar — Webinar 1 - Unlocking Potential: Is Community-Based Tourism a Sustainable Business Model in ASEAN Waterway Locales?

We encourage professionals and stakeholders from the travel and tourism sector in ASEAN countries to participate in this event. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to vital conversations that will shape the trajectory of sustainable tourism in ASEAN waterside communities.

Join us in our commitment to fostering a sustainable and inclusive future for tourism in ASEAN waterside cities.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, 24 November 2023

• Time: 09:30 - 12:00 (GMT+7)

• Location: Hosted on Zoom

To register, please visit our Webinar Registration page.

Register Now For The Webinar 1

For more information and webinar agenda, please visit our Project Portal or scan the below QR code.

Find out more about the series of webinars and immersive workshops

---

About the Project

"Enhancing Sustainable Tourism in ASEAN Waterside Cities" is a pioneering initiative designed to leverage local communities' unique cultural and natural heritage, fostering sustainable development and regional cooperation.

We look forward to seeing you at all our 6 webinars and to collaborating on sustainable tourism development in our waterside communities.

For press inquiries or further details, please contact City Connext:

Anawit Jitmana (+66) 65 895 6323

Thatsanvanh Banjong (+66) 87 706 5030

Email address: cityconnext@gmail.com

---

Contact b.Consulting

(+855) 10 518 700

Email address: contact@bconsultingcambodia.com