Battambang heads for heritage list

UNESCO, the Battambang provincial government and tourism officials recently held talks on plans to list the province on the UN’s World Heritage Cities Programme.
UNESCO country director for Cambodia, Anne Lemaistre, told local media that the inclusion of Battambang in the UNESCO programme could help ensure the protection of the province’s natural and cultural heritage sites.
“We are discussing the listing of Battambang as a UNESCO heritage city, as Battambang has potential…the UNESCO framework will encourage more tourists to visit the town and province by linking the preservation of cultural heritage and nature with developing tourist attractions.”
She estimated that the city could attract 1 million tourists who would visit Angkor Wat first and then go to Battambang.
Cambodia Association of Travel Agents president, Ang Kim Eang, said Battambang was already popular with Cambodian tourists for its distinctive architecture.
Provincial governor, Chan Sophal, added that provincial authorities will improve roads and airport to make it easier for tourists to visit.
Battambang was named by UNESCO as a City of Performing Arts, because it has more than 100 ancient Khmer and colonial buildings and 1,000 ancient pagodas and temples. It is also the home of a circus school called Phare Ponleu Selpak, which has strong potential to attract visitors.
Battambang is Cambodia’s second most populous city and already popular with tourists because small-town friendliness and some well-preserved colonial architecture, which works to give the town an exceptional charm.

Sourced: ttrweekly