Cambodian Tourism Businesses Recognised in International Awards

A number of Cambodian-based businesses, and the Kingdom itself, were recipients of international awards and accolades in October 2021. (Feature Photo Credit: SiemReaper.com) Photo Credit: SiemReaper.com

Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2021

Condé Nast Traveller recognised the best hotels and resorts in Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, with hotels in the Kingdom of Cambodia featuring on the list. They said: "The best hotels and resorts in Asia and the Indian Subcontinent in 2021, as voted for by you in this year's Readers' Choice Awards. For hotels recommended by the editors of Condé Nast Traveller, see our edit of the best hotels in Asia".

The best hotels in the rest of Asia 2021

Two of the top five-star hotels in Phnom Penh featured in the top three Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2021 for the rest of Asia.

1. Rosewood Luang Prabang, Laos. 99.38
2. Rosewood Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 99.05
3. Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 99.04
4. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, South Korea. 98.82
5. Signiel Seoul, South Korea. 98.81

Rosewood Hotel Phnom Penh

The best resorts in Asia 2021

Shinta Mani Wild in Siem Reap also featured in the top three best resorts in Asia.

1. Six Senses Bhutan. 99.38
2. Como Bhutan. 99.32
3. Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia. 99.3

Image credit: Agoda- Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia

Green Destinations’ Top 100 Global Accolade 2021 - Cardamom Tented Camp

The Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia was rewarded with the Green Destinations’ Top 100 Global Accolade for 2021. Albert Salman, the President of Green Destinations said that the objective of the top 100 sustainability stories programme was to “inspire responsible tourism leadership around the world”. Image credit: Cardamom Tented Camp Cardamom Tented Camp ecolodge received the accolade on 5 October 2021 when the online annual conference of Green Destinations announced the list of winners. They were the only winner based in Cambodia. Cardamom Tented Camp was one of 28 global tourism experiences in the Nature and Ecotourism category. There were an additional 72 winners were in the categories of Localisation and Decarbonising the Local Supply Chain; Communities and Culture; Environment and Climate; and Tourism Reset and Recovery. The Cambodian-based eco-business said: "Since Cardamom Tented Camp opened in 2017 we’ve helped protect 18,000 hectares of forest by channelling income from the camp to support 12 forest rangers who have done a terrific job of reducing illegal logging, wildlife hunting and sandbank dredging” according to Willem Niemeijer, CEO of YAANA Ventures, the camp operator. The Cardamom Tented Camp is based on three principles:

1. A belief in visitor dispersion to off-the-beaten-track places away from over-touristed hubs;
2. Commitment to working with experts, such as NGO Wildlife Alliance;
3. A full-hearted belief in the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit, which had to be unwavering if the project was going to be truly sustainable.

View the full list of Green Destinations’ list of Top 100 Sustainability Stories for 2021.

Rough Guides - World’s Friendliest Countries 2021

Cambodia was also ranked number one among the “World’s Friendliest Countries” in October 2021, according to the international website Rough Guides (based on a readers poll). The website added "Cambodia was by far the top answer in our poll and a popular choice among staff members and Rough Guides Twitter followers alike. @AndreaLeber declared, "They've been through so much and still have a smile on their faces!" The other nations who features in the top 10 “World’s Friendliest Countries” were:

1. Cambodia
2. Philippines
3. Laos
4. Nepal
5. Thailand
6. Myanmar
7. Indonesia
8. Fiji
9. Scotland
10. Sri Lanka.

The trio of awards and recognition might lift the spirits of those working in the severely hard-hit tourism sector in Cambodia. The Kingdom is set to make a decision on easing travel requirements and restrictions in October 2021. No tourist visas have been available for nearly 18 months and the contentious quarantine on arrival system also deters any potential business visitors.