SHAPING CULTURAL CORRIDOR IN CAMBODIA’S CONTEXT: A CASE STUDY OF TECHO 100-MODEL-VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT IN TAKEO PROVINCE

Abstract

The cultural corridor is a new concept to Cambodia, but it has to emerge primarily for conservation and tourism development. In this article, this concept is adopted into the Cambodian context and describes how TECHO 100-Model-Village Project is contributing to cultural conservation and economic development through cultural and eco-tourisms. In principle, the TECHO 100-model village development has a vision for cultivating potential wealth found in the abundant land and growing diamonds from the cultural assets of Cambodia. In this project, Takeo has excellent potential for cultural and eco-tourism development, and it selects as the earlier stage due to its unique history, considering as the root of Khmer culture and civilization locating with very good accessible. In the future, Takeo, under the TECHO 100-model-village development, is converted into a cultural, historical, and natural destinations for national and international tourists, especially Angkor Borei, Phnom Da, and Bourie Cholsa. As a result, a master plan to build Takeo to become a cultural corridor is under away. The improved infrastructure and capacity building of local people is required to deliver sustainable cultural and eco-tourism services in Takeo. This Innovative TECHO 100-model-village development is integrating cultural and eco-tourism. Diversify tourism products, i.e., tour guides to ancient temples, homestays, bird watching, souvenir stores, tour guides, and local food, is an excellent value-added service to the existing cultural assets.