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A Guide to Best Practices for Archaeological Tourism

To learn more about how these guidelines were created, read inTravel Magazine’s interview with AIA Director of Programs Ben Thomas and ATTA Vice President Chris Doyle.

Archaeological sites and historic places are major tourist attractions worldwide. In the last few years, visits to historical sites have ranked third–after dining in restaurants and shopping–among activities undertaken by Americans traveling abroad. The number of people that visit archaeological sites rises every year and the increase in traffic can result in damage to sites. In extreme cases, sites have been closed to the public to prevent further damage.

The AIA-ATTA Guide to Best Practices for Archaeological Tourism is now available.

Guide for Tour Operators and Site Managers

Guide for Tourists

Guide for Tourists (one page handout)

The popularity of archaeological sites as tourist attractions means that they are valuable sources of revenue, but unfortunately this is often not matched by reinvestment in proper management to ensure both protection of the site and continued enjoyment of it by tourists. Archaeological sites are fragile resources and inadequate site management will result in deterioration or even destruction of the site and its related social, historical, educational, and economic potential.

With these concerns in mind the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), ARCHAEOLOGY magazine, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) have created a manual of good practices for tour operators and the tourists who visit archaeological sites. The guide outlines practices that will allow for proper, sustainable archaeological tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to fully experience ancient sites while minimizing the negative impact of tourism. The guide is an important resource both for tour operators who wish to incorporate archaeological sites in their tour packages and for tourists who want to see these sites first hand. In conjunction with adequate and properly funded site management plans, these guidelines will help ensure that the public can enjoy the experience of visiting ancient places for generations to come.

Who are the AIA, ATTA, and ARCHAEOLOGY?

The Archaeological Institute of America is North America’s oldest and largest archaeological organization. It was chartered in 1906 by Congress in recognition of its work in developing the Antiquities Act, a cornerstone in the preservation of archaeological sites in the U.S. Today, the Institute has more than 200,000 Members and Subscribers in 107 Local Societies. It promotes an informed public interest in the cultures and civilizations of the past, supports archaeological research, fosters the sound professional practice of archaeology and advocates the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage.

The AIA’s award-winning magazine ARCHAEOLOGY , now in its 60th year of publication, brings the excitement of archaeological discovery to an audience of nearly 750,000 readers worldwide. Our readers are a diverse group who thrive on varied cultural and artistic experiences, including travel to exotic locations.

The AIA and ARCHAEOLOGY websites reach a combined annual audience of 2.4 million visitors with 7.4 million page views.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association is a membership organization for companies in the adventure travel area. While seeking to promote and grow the adventure travel market, ATTA is working to provide a unifying voice for the industry that promotes and facilitates knowledge sharing and a common vision; defines “adventure travel” and establishes “best practices” and operating standards; and encourages sustainable and environmentally and culturally sensitive adventure travel practices.

Archaeological Institute of America

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About Archaeology

Archaeology Tourism

What is archaeological or heritage tourism? Heritage sites are places of archaeological or historical significance that have been preserved. Many are open to the public for visitation. They often include museums or interpretive centers with exhibits, trails with informational signs or brochures, and staff who provide interpretative tours. "Heritage Tourism" encompasses the sites themselves, as well as ideas and methods for managing, promoting, and interpreting the sites. There is ongoing discussion in Heritage Tourism about concerns with continued protection of the sites and public access to them.

Visit Archaeology

Planning a trip to visit archaeological sites? These resources can help:

• Archaeology Travel Guides : National Park Service
• What We Manage : Bureau of Land Management
• Washington Underground: Archaeology in Downtown Washington, DC : The Center for Heritage Resource Studies at the University of Maryland
• The Ancient Ohio Trail : The University of Cincinnati and the Ohio State University at Newark
• AIA Tour Programs : Archaeological Institute of America

Site Etiquette

Many archaeological sites are unintentionally damaged by visitors who come to enjoy and learn from them. Following these site etiquette guidelines will help reduce damage to fragile sites and will help to save the past for the future. This includes information on what to do if you find an artifact at a public site. There are also graphical versions of guidelines available for sharing online.

• All of the things you see at a site are evidence of the lives of people who once lived there, so it is important that you do not move or disturb anything from the site.
• If you find an artifact, you can examine it, draw it, or photograph it, but it is very important that you leave it where you found it. It is useful to record as much information as possible about the location and the description of the artifact.
• Be careful not to step on artifacts or other features at archaeological sites (structures, mounds, ancient trash pits) unless there is the proper infrastructure (for example, boardwalks) in place that will prevent you from damaging these ancient features.
• Don’t lean, sit, stand, or climb on prehistoric walls.
• Staying on established paths or trails will help control erosion and preserve the site.
• Modern trash can contaminate the soil of an archaeological site so be sure not to toss an apple core, banana peel, or cigarette. Food can attract animals, which can be very destructive to sites.
• Place your campsite away from archaeological sites. Campfires produce charcoal that can alter radiocarbon dates of an archaeological site, and food attracts animals that may dig, nest, or burrow on the site.
• Pets can be very destructive to archaeological sites—leave your pooch behind when you are visiting a site.
• Share the information with a professional archaeologist. If you are visiting a state or national park, inform a park ranger, naturalist, or interpreter. Each state has a Historic Preservation Office that records the location of archaeological sites.

These guidelines were adapted from those developed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Archaeology and Tourism

Part of: Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

On a national and international level archaeological sites have great social, cultural, and economic value. Archaeological sites are integral parts of regional histories, heritages, and identities. They are also often major tourist attractions. The economic potential has increased the pressure on archaeological sites to accommodate greater influxes of tourists and on the authorities in charge to open up more sites to tourism. Tourism expands local opportunities and brings in revenue but it can also have serious impacts on sites. Archaeotourism must be considered carefully and entered cautiously. Steps must be taken to maintain the integrity of the site as both a cultural resource and as a subject for research and scholarship. If negotiated properly, many future possibilities lie in the cooperation between cultural managers and tourism experts. In this session we will explore the possibilities and best practices of presenting archaeological research and communicating the importance of archaeological heritage to an interested public as well as share innovative approaches to archaeotourism involving local communities, technology, and more.

Other Keywords Public Archaeology • Heritage Tourism • Heritage Management • Preservation • Remote Sensing • Interpretation • Ethics • Tourism • Landscape Archaeology • Maritime Sites

Geographic Keywords AFRICA • North America - Midwest • North America - Southwest • North America - Southeast • East/Southeast Asia

Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-9 of 9)

• Documents (9)

Global heritage tourism is at an all time high with tourism numbers expected to increase in the coming years. The challenges associated with managing heritage sites are as countless as they are complex. Heritage resources are finite non-renewal assets that provide critical links to the past, a source of identity, knowledge, and cultural values that enable communities and individuals to better understand and navigate the present. The management of archaeological resources, as part of heritage...

A growing public interest in archaeotourism has resulted in greater numbers of visitors to archaeological sites as well as tourism being increasingly being seen as a use for sites for both social and economic reasons. While additional visitors can generate more revenue for local interests, they also increase human impact on the site. While tourism operators, archaeologists, and heritage managers frequently work at the same sites, they often work in isolation. While, many sites are preparing for...

North Carolina’s Department of Cultural Resources is pressed by state legislators to justify keeping Historic Site’s properties open, and its Office of State Archaeology (OSA) staff gainfully employed. The state university system has also seen its share of cuts. By pooling research interests and resources, OSA and University of North Carolina Greensboro archaeologists and geography professors and students could highlight potential below ground features and excavate at two sites. The project...

Underwater archaeological sites around the world draw thousands of diving tourists lured by the excitement of shipwrecks and the beauty of the marine environment. Through scientific research and beguiling information, archaeologists have the opportunity to educate these visitors about the history of the sites and, perhaps more importantly, about the need for preservation. Effective interpretation leads to appreciation of submerged cultural sites as links to our past, rather than simply as mines...

Literature in heritage and tourism usually addresses the multiple benefits of visitors, their threats and the controversial concept of ‘return’. As heritage managers we usually focus our efforts on these visitors, as the panacea for everything. In the context of postcolonial theory and public archaeology, there are two factors of this equation that we usually forget; local communities and the real recipients of the money. Working in Gondar (Ethiopia) I have come to define the concept of the...

Archaeotourism, the visiting of sites of historic and prehistoric significance, not only satisfies people’s interest in the past, but more importantly helps to build greater support for cultural resource preservation and research. While protecting sites is paramount, professional archaeologists cannot ignore or risk losing the opportunities archaeotourism provides; namely creating a scientifically- and culturally-literate population that can help advance the protection of cultural resources and...

Tourism centered on archaeological sites or associated material culture can benefit local communities, financially or otherwise. Yet when the site in question involves "difficult" heritage such as violence, communities often must grapple with tensions regarding how to balance memorialization or education with profitability. Such tensions can be heightened when the site involves human remains. This paper presents a case study of St Helena, a small British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic...

Central Michigan University recently undertook a series of public archaeology projects in cooperation with local historical societies and county governments in to investigate two northern Michigan lighthouses that are public parks. The McGulpin Point Lighthouse operated from 1869 to 1906 and was purchased by Emmett County in 2009. The 40 Mile Point Lighthouse was built in 1897, was deeded to Presque Isle County in 1998. The modern political and socioeconomic conditions of the two counties are...

In Southcentral Alaska, Matanuska-Susitna Borough is among the Nation's most rapidly growing regions. At the cost of losing indigenous archaeological settlements, subdivision activities have mushroomed in response to increased population. Collaboration with the Knik Native Dena'ina Tribe is tantamount to saving numerous proto-historic settlements where inland rivers confluence with Knik Arm in Upper Cook Inlet. Working with the State and Knikatnu Tribal Corporation who own sites adjacent to...

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Each year, millions of travelers visit America’s historic places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”  A high percentage of domestic and international travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling, and those that do stay longer, spend more, and travel more often. Heritage tourism creates jobs and business opportunities, helps protect resources, and often improves the quality of life for local residents.

The ACHP has encouraged national travel and tourism policies that promote the international marketing of America’s historic sites as tourism destinations. The ACHP also engages in ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive preservation program, reaching out to diverse communities and groups and engaging them in dialogue about what parts of our national legacy should be more fully recognized, preserved, and shared. 

The ACHP developed Preserve America , a national initiative to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of America’s cultural and natural heritage. In partnership with other federal agencies, the initiative has encouraged the use of historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, as well as enabling people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through heritage tourism and education programs. These goals have been advanced by an Executive Order directing federal agencies to support such efforts, a community designation program, and a recognition program for outstanding stewardship of historic resources by volunteers.

From 2004-2016, over 900 Preserve America Communities   were designated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories, as well as nearly 60 Preserve America Stewards . Many Preserve America Communities are featured in “Discover Our Shared Heritage” National Register on-line travel itineraries . From 2006 through 2010, the National Park Service (in partnership with the ACHP) awarded more than $21 million in Preserve America Grants   to support sustainable historic resource management strategies, with a focus on heritage tourism. 

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; if they are not ACHP links, they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the ACHP of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The ACHP bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Please contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content, including its privacy policies.

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Archaeology and Tourism

Touring the past.

• Edited by: Dallen J. Timothy and Lina G. Tahan
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• Language: English
• Publisher: Channel View Publications
• Copyright year: 2020
• Audience: College/higher education;
• Main content: 248
• Keywords: relationships between archaeology and tourism ; heritage tourism ; archaeology-based tourism ; archaeological heritage ; anthropology ; tourism ; archaeology ; cultural tourism ; Cultural geography ; Cultural heritage management
• Published: October 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781845417574

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A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America

Concerned by the threat posed to ancient sites by increasing traffic and inadequate or under-funded site management plans, the AIA and ARCHAEOLOGY have joined with the Adventure Travel Trade Association in creating a guide to good practices for archaeological tourism. "The guide will be an important resource for tour operators who wish to incorporate archaeological sites into their tour packages while ensuring that these sites are protected from damage so that they may be enjoyed for generations to come. The guide will also provide useful do's and don'ts for tourists themselves," says AIA CEO Teresa Keller. Completion and publication of the guidelines is expected by this October.

Archaeological sites and historic places are major tourist attractions worldwide. In the last few years, visits to historical sites have ranked third--after dining in restaurants and shopping--among activities undertaken by Americans traveling abroad. The number of people that visit archaeological sites rises every year and the increase in traffic can result in damage to sites. In extreme cases, sites have been closed to the public to prevent further damage.

The popularity of archaeological sites as tourist attractions means that they are valuable sources of revenue, but unfortunately this is often not matched by reinvestment in proper management to ensure both protection of the site and continued enjoyment of it by tourists. Archaeological sites are fragile resources and inadequate site management will result in deterioration or even destruction of the site and its related social, historical, educational, and economic potential.

With these concerns in mind the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), ARCHAEOLOGY magazine, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) are creating a manual of good practices for tour operators and the tourists who visit archaeological sites. When complete, the guide will outline practices that will allow for proper, sustainable archaeological tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to fully experience ancient sites while minimizing the negative impact of tourism. The guide will be an important resource both for tour operators who wish to incorporate archaeological sites in their tour packages and for tourists who want to see these sites first hand. In conjunction with adequate and properly funded site management plans, these guidelines will help ensure that the public can enjoy the experience of visiting ancient places for generations to come.

Who are the AIA, ATTA, and ARCHAEOLOGY?

The Archaeological Institute of America is North America's oldest and largest archaeological organization. It was chartered in 1906 by Congress in recognition of its work in developing the Antiquities Act, a cornerstone in the preservation of archaeological sites in the U.S. Today, the Institute has nearly 250,000 members and subscribers in more than 100 local societies. It promotes an informed public interest in the cultures and civilizations of the past, supports archaeological research, fosters the sound professional practice of archaeology and advocates the preservation of the world's archaeological heritage.

The AIA's award-winning magazine ARCHAEOLOGY , now in its 60th year of publication, brings the excitement of archaeological discovery to an audience of more than 730,000 readers worldwide. Our readers are a diverse group who thrive on varied cultural and artistic experiences, including travel to exotic locations.

The AIA and ARCHAEOLOGY websites reach a combined annual audience of nearly 2.4 million visitors with almost 7.4 million page views.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association is a membership organization for companies in the adventure travel area. While seeking to promote and grow the adventure travel market, ATTA is working to provide a unifying voice for the industry that promotes and facilitates knowledge sharing and a common vision; defines "adventure travel" and establishes "best practices" and operating standards; and encourages sustainable and environmentally and culturally sensitive adventure travel practices.

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Cambodia’s relocation of people from UNESCO site raises concerns

Chhem Hay, 37, stands at a main door of her house under construction at Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 2, 2024. She decided last June to take the opportunity to move from the village where she’d lived since she was a young teenager to the new settlement. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Tourists visit Bayon temple at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The Angkor site is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, spread across some 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) in northwestern Cambodia. It contains the ruins of Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to 15th centuries, including the temple of Angkor Wat, featured on several Cambodian banknotes, such as the 2,000 riel note depicting rice farmers working fields around the temple, as well as the country’s flag. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Yun Chantha, 40, right, and his wife Yem Srey Pin, 35, left, stand at their home in Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 2, 2024. It’s been more than a year since Yem Srey Pin moved with her family from the village where she was born on Cambodia’s Angkor UNESCO World Heritage site to Run Ta Ek, a dusty new settlement about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A view of Bayon temple at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The Angkor site is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, spread across some 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) in northwestern Cambodia. It contains the ruins of Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to 15th centuries, including the temple of Angkor Wat, featured on several Cambodian banknotes, such as the 2,000 riel note depicting rice farmers working fields around the temple, as well as the country’s flag. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Boys, who are among the families relocated from Cambodia’s archaeological site, ride bicycle at Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 2, 2024. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Yem Sam-eng, 43, who is among the families relocated from Cambodia’s archaeological site, takes his cow for drinking water in a jar behind his new home at Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 2, 2024. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Children of Yem Srey Pin who moved from Cambodia’s Angkor UNESCO World Heritage site, sit on the ground at their home in Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 2, 2024. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Long Kosal, spokesperson for APSARA, the Cambodian office that oversees the Angkor archaeological site, speaks to The Associated Press at his office in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 1, 2024. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Chhem Hay, 37, pumps water behind her home at Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 2, 2024. She decided last June to take the opportunity to move from the village where she’d lived since she was a young teenager to the new settlement. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Kheang Pichphanith, 24, who is among the families relocated from Cambodia’s archaeological site, sits next to her one-month-old twin babies at her home in Run Ta Ek village in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, on April 2, 2024. Cambodia’s program to relocate people living on the famous Angkor archaeological site is drawing international concern over possible human rights abuses, while authorities maintain they’re doing nothing more than protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site from illegal squatters. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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RUN TA EK, Cambodia (AP) — It’s been more than a year since Yem Srey Pin moved with her family from the village where she was born on Cambodia’s Angkor UNESCO World Heritage site to Run Ta Ek, a dusty new settlement about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away.

A tattered Cambodian flag flaps gently in the scorching midday sun on her corner lot, its depiction of the Angkor Wat temple barely still visible, while her brother scoops water from a clay cistern onto a neighbor’s cow that he tends during the day.

Hers is one of about 5,000 families relocated from the sprawling archaeological site, one of Southeast Asia’s top tourist draws, by Cambodian authorities in an ongoing program that Amnesty International has condemned as a “gross violation of international human rights law.” Another 5,000 families are still due to be moved.

The allegations have drawn strong expressions of concern from UNESCO and a spirited rebuttal from Cambodian authorities , who say they’re doing nothing more than protecting the heritage land from illegal squatters.

Yem Srey Pin’s single-room home, its reused corrugated steel siding perforated by rust and old nail holes, is a far cry better than the makeshift tent she lived in with her husband and five children when they first arrived, which did little to protect from the monsoon rains and blew down in the winds.

And their 600-square-meter (6,500-square-foot) property is significantly bigger than the 90-square-meter (1,000-square-foot) plot they occupied illegally in the village of Khvean on the Angkor site.

But the 35-year-old is also in debt from building the new house. Her husband finds less construction work nearby and his wages are lower, and there are no wild fruits or vegetables she can forage, nor rice paddies where she can collect crabs to sell at her mother’s stand.

“After more than a year here I haven’t been able to save any money and I haven’t earned anything,” she said, as her 12-year-old son rocked her 8-month-old daughter in a hammock in front of a fan to take the edge off midday heat nearing 40 degrees Celsius (topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Living here is just hand to mouth because the income we do have goes to pay for the rice, food and my children’s school.”

The Angkor site is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, spread across some 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) in northwestern Cambodia. It contains the ruins of Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to 15th centuries, including the temple of Angkor Wat, featured on several Cambodian banknotes, such as the 2,000 riel note depicting rice farmers working fields around the temple, as well as the country’s flag.

UNESCO calls it one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, and it is critical to Cambodia’s tourism industry.

When it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992, it was named a “living heritage site” whose local population observed ancestral traditions and cultural practices that have disappeared elsewhere.

Still, UNESCO at the time noted that Angkor was under “dual pressures” from some 100,000 inhabitants in 112 historic settlements who “constantly try to expand their dwelling areas,” and from encroachment from the nearby town of Siem Reap.

Cambodia’s answer was a plan to entice the 10,000 families illegally squatting in the area to resettle at Run Ta Ek and another site, as well as to encourage some from the 112 historic settlements to relocate as their families grow in size.

“People got married, they had children, so the number of people were on the rise, including those coming illegally,” said Long Kosal, deputy director general and spokesperson for the Cambodian agency known as APSARA that’s responsible for managing the Angkor site .

“What we did was that we provided an option.”

Cambodia began moving people to Run Ta Ek in 2022, giving those who volunteered to leave their homes in the Angkor area plots of land, a two-month supply of canned food and rice, a tarp and 30 sheets of corrugated metal to use to build a home. Benefits also included a Poor Card, essentially a state welfare program giving them around 310,000 riel (about $75) monthly for 10 years.

In a November report, Amnesty questioned how voluntary the relocations actually were, saying many people they interviewed were threatened or coerced into moving and that the relocations were more “forced evictions in disguise.”

The rights group cited a speech from former Prime Minister Hun Sen in which he said people “must either leave the Angkor site soon and receive some form of compensation or be evicted at a later time and receive nothing.”

Amnesty also noted Hun Sen’s track record, saying that under his long-time rule Cambodian authorities had been responsible for several forced evictions elsewhere that it alleged “constituted gross violations of human rights.” It said Run Ta Ek — with dirt roads, insufficient drainage, poor sanitation and other issues — did not fulfil international obligations under human rights treaties to provide people adequate housing.

That has now changed: Homes with outhouses have been built, roads paved, and sewers installed. Primitive hand pumps made of blue PVC piping provide water, and electricity has been run in.

There’s a school, a health center, a temple; bus routes were added, and a market area was built but is not yet operating, Long Kosal said.

Hun Sen’s successor, his son Hun Manet , traveled to Run Ta Ek in December to meet with residents and highlight infrastructure improvements in an attempt to allay the growing international concerns surrounding Cambodia’s most important tourist site .

Tourists visit Bayon temple at Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

He reiterated his father’s contention that if the squatters are not removed, the site risks being delisted by UNESCO — something UNESCO has never threatened.

Amnesty itself concedes life has gotten better for the residents of Run Ta Ek, but maintains there are major concerns.

Families have had to take on heavy debt to build even their basic houses, there is little work to be found, and the village — without any significant tree cover — is swelteringly hot during the day and has little shelter from winds or monsoon rains, said Montse Ferrer, the head of Amnesty’s research team investigating the Angkor Wat resettlements.

“People no longer have income,” she said in an interview in Geneva. “They had a clear source of income at the time — tourism — but also other sources of income linked to the location at Angkor. They are now at least 30 minutes away from the site and can no longer access these sources.”

Following Amnesty’s scathing report, UNESCO moved up the timeline for Cambodia’s submission of its own report on the state of conservation at the Angkor site, specifically asking for the allegations to be addressed.

In that report, submitted to UNESCO in March, Cambodia said it had not violated any international laws with the relocations, saying it was only moving people involved in the “illegal occupation of heritage land” and that in Run Ta Ek many were now property owners for the first time in their lives.

UNESCO said it would not comment on the situation until it has been able to analyze Cambodia’s response, but referred The Associated Press to previous comments from Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center.

Speaking after Amnesty released its report, he stressed the agency had “always categorically rejected the use of forced evictions as a tool for management of World Heritage listed sites.”

“Since the Cambodian authorities announced their population relocation program in 2022, UNESCO has repeatedly and publicly recalled the importance of full respect for human rights,” he said.

Ferrer said Cambodia’s response avoids addressing many of the issues raised by Amnesty, and that UNESCO — even though it says it has little ability to change national policies — has not yet used the significant leverage it does have.

“They could decide that the site is in danger, which they haven’t. They can advise the World Heritage Committee, which is the ultimate body that can decide to take specific action against the state of Cambodia,” she said. “It can also conduct its own investigation and make public recommendations about what the state can be doing.”

Run Ta Ek resident Chhem Hay decided in June to take the opportunity to move from the village where she’d lived since she was a young teenager to the new settlement, enticed by the prospect of owning her own land, and a larger property than she’d ever had.

Her situation has improved since the austere early days living with her husband and teenage daughter in a tent on a dirt lot surviving on rice and prahok — a fermented fish paste that is an inexpensive staple for many Cambodians — paid for by charity handouts from Buddhist monks.

“I didn’t dare eat anything much,” she said. “I tried to save money to buy bricks and sand.”

She was able to get a bank loan for $1,000 for the materials for a house, and now lives in a single-room brick structure built by her construction-worker husband and other family.

The income from the government Poor Card is enough for the monthly payments on the high-interest 2-year loan, which will have cost her almost double the principle when it’s paid off. She has four chickens and some newly hatched chicks, though had to kill six others to feed the men building her house.

But the 37-year-old lost her work as a garbage collector in her village, and her husband has to drive in to Siem Reap for construction work, setting out at 5 a.m. to make it on time and spending about a third of his 35,000 riel ($8.70) daily income on gas for his motorbike.

She’s looking forward to the day when the village market is opened, and hopes the government will establish a factory or similar business that will provide jobs.

“I don’t know what will happen at the moment,” she said, standing in her doorway. “I’m just living day by day.”

For residents like Chhem Hay, Cambodia plans to offer vocational training, but does not envision further financial compensation, Long Kosal said.

“Once you have education, once you have a vocational skill, you can find a job easily,” he said. “Where you just remain there waiting for support, then you’re not going to go anywhere. You’re not going to make it.”

Meanwhile, villagers say many have already given up on Run Ta Ek, putting padlocks on their new homes and moving away — presumably back closer to Siem Reap and the Angkor site where it is easier to make a living.

Yem Srey Pin said even though Run Ta Ek has slowly improved since she arrived in February 2023, and her new home will be paid off fairly soon, she’d rather return to her village if it were possible.

But the village of Khvean is already slowly being reclaimed by the jungle, with grass growing through the foundations of houses, all that remains of the former homes. A hair curler, tattered blue playing cards and a trampled baseball cap lying on the ground are among the last vestiges of the lives left behind.

With almost all of the village’s 400 families moving out, aside from a few who work at a neighboring military facility, Yem Srey Pin says there’s nothing left for her there, even if APSARA would let her return.

“I can’t live in my old village alone,” she said.

Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten contributed to this report from Geneva.

Archaeological Heritage Tourism in the Philippines: Challenges and Prospects

• First Online: 29 November 2016

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• Jun G. Cayron 5  

Part of the book series: One World Archaeology ((WORLDARCH))

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Archaeological heritage tourism (AHT) plays a significant role in nation building and creating cultural awareness and feelings of cultural solidarity, continuity, and tenacity. However, the most visible benefit of AHT is its economic contribution. AHT brings foreign exchange, investments, and employment to the country. The Philippine government has been trying to capitalize on AHT to boost its tourism industry; however, the effort has had disappointing results. Moreover, AHT raises some difficult issues for archaeologists, national governments, and local communities. These include the limited impact on local development efforts evident from tourism promotion, difficulties achieving meaningful engagement of local communities in the tourism process, and challenges posed by ambiguous missions and often competition among government agencies. This paper addresses these issues through a case study of the Tabon Cave Complex in Palawan Province, the Philippines. The research shows that low destination awareness, institutional conflict, and lack of community engagement are reasons for the weak success of the Tabon Cave Complex as a tourism destination in the Philippines.

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Cayron, J.G. (2017). Archaeological Heritage Tourism in the Philippines: Challenges and Prospects. In: Gould, P., Pyburn, K. (eds) Collision or Collaboration. One World Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44515-1_7

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