Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia (for the various names of the country in Khmer, see naming section below) is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia with a population of more than 13 million people. Most Cambodians are Therevada Buddhists of Khmer extraction. A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as Cambodian. Most Cambodians are ethnically Khmer, but the country also has a substantial number of Cham and small hill tribes.

Tourism

The tourism industry is the country's second-greatest source of hard currency after the textile industry http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2732.htm. More than 60% of visitor arrivals are to Angkor, and most of the remainder to Phnom Penh http://www.mot.gov.kh/statistic.asp. Other tourist hotspots include Kompong Som (Cambodia's only port), which has a popular beach.

Related Topics:
Hard currency - Textile - Angkor - Phnom Penh - Kompong Som

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Angkor Wat temple complex is the best preserved example of Khmer architecture. Angkor means "city" and Wat "temple". Out of bounds to tourists during the civil war, it gained particular worldwide attention after featuring in the 2001 movie '. The Bayon, also at Angkor, is located at the center of Angkor Thom. It has 54 towers, each bearing four smiling faces.

Related Topics:
Bayon - Angkor Thom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many tourists also visit the Tuol Sleng Museum, the infamous prison of the Khmer Rouge, and Choeung Ek, one of the main Killing Fields; both display photographs, skulls and bones of victims of the autogenocide. Cambodia is also a major destination for sex tourism, and there is particular concern over child sex and forced prostitution http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/943446.stm.

Related Topics:
Tuol Sleng Museum - Choeung Ek - Killing Fields - Sex tourism - Forced prostitution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~