Siem Reap: "Smile of Cambodia" kicks off this week to promote culture, cuisine and tourism

The "Smile of Cambodia" event will commence this week, with the objective of promoting traditional Khmer culture, tourism and cuisine.

"Smile of Cambodia" kicks off this week to promote culture, cuisine and tourism

The event, which is scheduled to take place in Siem Reap province, will encourage content producers to showcase the country's cultural heritage and tourism offerings, as well as its culinary traditions.

The event, organised by the Khmer Artists Association and the provincial administration, will run from 12-16 August with the objective of promoting visits to renowned tourist sites in the province, which is rich in culture and heritage.

The event forms part of the "Visit Siem Reap 2024" campaign, launched by Prime Minister Hun Manet earlier this year, with the objective of stimulating the tourism sector, beginning with Siem Reap, in order to facilitate the recovery of the industry and related businesses that have been adversely affected by the global pandemic.

As stated in a social media post by the Prime Minister on 8 July, the ceremony will be held at the former headquarters of the Heritage Protection Police Department in front of Angkor Wat. Entertainment, mini exhibitions of Khmer cuisine, cultural creations and other programmes designed to engage travellers will be included in the event. At a meeting on 7 August, Mao Chamnan, President of the Khmer Artists Association, stated that the programme represents efforts to conserve Khmer culture and arts while linking them to tourism.