Tourism in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district is showing signs of recovery after visitor numbers plunged to almost zero following last year’s Cambodia-Thailand border conflict.
Local authorities are reporting a steady return of tourists since July 2026, while small businesses are beginning to benefit from renewed activity, particularly during weekends and public holidays.
Theang Leng, governor of Veal Veng district, told reporters during a visit to the area on October 23 that the armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border late last year had severely disrupted tourism, as many visitors feared for their safety because of the district’s proximity to conflict-affected areas.
He noted that some tourist attractions in the district were approximately 20 kilometres from areas where fighting had taken place, prompting concerns among potential visitors about renewed hostilities and the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war (ERWs).
“The conflict’s of last year have affected us. Residents and tourists have been worried because they associate Veal Veng with the fighting along the Thai border. As a result, they were reluctant to visit, fearing the dangers of explosives and other security risks,” he said.
According to Leng, tourism activity declined sharply immediately after the fighting ended in late December 2025, with visitor numbers falling to almost zero during the early months of 2026.
However, the situation began improving in July, as tourists gradually returned to the district’s natural attractions, scenic viewpoints and recreational sites.
“Immediately after the fighting ended, there were virtually no tourists. Visitor numbers dropped by almost 100 per cent because the area was close to the conflict,” he said.
“But from July 2026 until now, the number of visitors has gradually recovered and is approaching the level we saw before the conflict,” he added.
He did not provide figures for domestic and international visitors during the first 10 months of 2026 or comparative statistics from previous years.
A frontline vendor speaks
Kit Phay, a vendor from Dei Kraham village in Lung Reab commune, said she had been selling goods at the Antong Ang tourist area for approximately three months.
She explained that her business depended heavily on visitors arriving on Saturdays, Sundays and traditional holidays, while sales on ordinary weekdays were often slow.
“Business is better on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, income is unpredictable. Sometimes I earn barely enough to cover the cost of petrol,” she said.
Phay said she could earn substantially more during busy weekends, while sales during the Pchum Ben holiday reached approximately 200,000 riel on some days.
She noted that other traditional celebrations also attracted more visitors, providing additional opportunities for local traders.
However, the presence of tourists does not necessarily translate into strong sales.
“There are quite a lot of visitors, but many just pass by without buying anything. When some stop and purchase something, it helps us make a little money,” she said.
Phay also noted that rising commodity costs had affected her business to some extent, forcing her to adjust her pricing.
While tourism activity is gradually recovering, district authorities are stepping up efforts to improve infrastructure, public spaces and access to natural attractions, hoping to encourage visitors to spend more time in Veal Veng and support the local economy.
Leng noted that the district possesses considerable natural tourism potential, but much of it remained underdeveloped because of limited infrastructure and inadequate access to some attractions.
He compared the district’s natural resources to precious gemstones that needed to be polished before their full value could be realised.
“Even if we have a diamond, we cannot benefit from it unless we refine it,” he said.
‘Polishing the diamond’
According to the governor, local authorities have planted nearly 7,000 colourful trees along major roads, alongside yellow-flowering ornamental trees, to improve the appearance of the district’s urban areas and public spaces.
The administration has also installed rubbish bins and public awareness signs encouraging visitors and residents to dispose of waste responsibly.
Leng described littering as a serious threat to the tourism sector, saying that maintaining cleanliness was essential to preserving the district’s appeal.
He said authorities had introduced messages warning that littering could bring bad luck and that rubbish was an enemy of tourism, using signs and waste bins to encourage behavioural change among visitors.
Solar-powered streetlights have also been installed, to improve visibility and road safety at night.
In the district’s market area, authorities have developed a pedestrian walkway, paved with tiles and decorated with flowering plants.
Leng said the improvements were intended to create a more attractive and orderly town centre, complementing the district’s surrounding natural scenery.
Beyond the town centre, the administration is working to improve access to waterfalls and other natural attractions that could help diversify the district’s tourism offerings.
The governor identified several waterfalls, including Phnom Tambor, Thma Chang and Khleum Thma Khmao, as destinations that had already attracted visitors but still required better road access.
He acknowledged that poor road conditions remained an obstacle to tourism development, particularly for visitors travelling to more remote waterfalls.
“Some of these waterfalls are already well known and attract visitors, but the roads are not yet sufficient. The district and provincial administrations are continuing to improve access,” he said.
Leng explained that improved infrastructure would benefit not only tourists travelling from other provinces but also local residents seeking recreational opportunities.
Another major development initiative involves the area at the foot of a 1,500-metre mountain, a prominent tourist destination along National Road 55.
The governor said authorities were working to transform the area into an organised green recreational space, with gardens, seating areas and designated locations for visitors to take photographs.
Green development
He said the initiative was being implemented in line with the government’s policy of developing the site as a green conservation and recreational area.
Leng explained that the administration had completed arrangements to remove the temporary and unauthorised structures that were previously erected in the area.
He said some structures remained standing because their occupants had not yet finished dismantling them, with authorities allowing additional time for the process to be completed.
“We have resolved the issue 100 per cent. We did not simply demolish their buildings. Some residents have already left but have not yet completed dismantling their buildings. We are allowing them time to do so,” he said.
He did not specify how many households were involved or provide details of the arrangements reached with affected residents.
Leng said the official opening of National Road 55 in early 2022 had significantly improved access to Veal Veng, creating new opportunities for tourism and economic development in the mountainous district.
The improved road has made the area more accessible to visitors seeking natural scenery, mountain viewpoints and waterfalls, although some secondary roads still require further improvement.
He said district and provincial authorities were pursuing a broader ambition to establish Veal Veng as a major tourism destination in Cambodia by combining its natural landscapes with modern infrastructure, improved public spaces and better environmental management.
“Our ambition, from the provincial leadership down to the district administration, is to make Veal Veng a tourism destination with nationwide appeal by combining creative development with the natural environment we already have,” he said.
Veal Veng flower ‘beginning to bloom’
Leng encouraged domestic and international tourists to return to Veal Veng, saying that the district’s overall security situation was favourable despite the occasional occurrence of minor offences.
He maintained that serious crimes such as robbery and murder were not prevalent in the district, while acknowledging that no area could be described as completely free of crime.
For the governor, Veal Veng’s recovery represents a new chapter for a district once promoted as a “hidden flower” because of its relatively undiscovered natural beauty.
He said the district was gradually emerging from that image as improved roads, recreational facilities and tourism investment brought greater attention to its attractions.
“The flower is no longer hidden. It is beginning to bloom,” he said.
Despite encouraging signs of recovery, rebuilding visitor confidence, improving access to natural attractions and ensuring that tourism growth translates into more reliable income for local businesses remain important challenges.
For vendors such as Phay, the recovery will ultimately be measured not only by the number of tourists returning to Veal Veng, but also by how many stop, spend money and help sustain the livelihoods of those who depend on the district’s tourism economy.