Tourism and opportunism

These young men made a living by escorting and protecting foreign tourists visiting Banteay Srei Temple in 1997. (Learn more)

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Cambodia became awash with weapons and burdened by distrust after its civil wars in the 1970s, which were linked to the Vietnam War. After the wars, the growing population experienced high rates of unemployment and poverty as well as trauma. Many young men turned to security or paramilitary careers where the lines between private protection, crime, and government corruption were very thin.

Hiring private guards contained elements of bribery, as it was designed to prevent anyone, including them, from robbing or harming the foreigners.

Recent efforts have been made to increase and improve Cambodia’s tourism industry in a joint effort to protect the sites around Angkor, and to improve the nation’s standards of governance, sustainable economy sectors, and job opportunities.

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