ace institute of management

Tourism and Hospitality Management

Assignment 1

10/29/2013

Submitted to:

Mr. Pankaj Pradhananga

Submitted by:

Shubhekchha Neupane

Heritage Watch was founded in 2003 by archealogist Dougald O’Reilly following the rampant

looting of PhumSnay, an immense Iron Age burial ground in Cambodia’s northeast. Realizing

that an entire chapter of Cambodia’s history was disappearing, he made it his mission to promote

the protection of the country’s heritage. To achieve this goal, he founded the Heritage Watch.

Cambodia suffered years of conflict from the early 1970s until the early 1990s, especially during

the 1975-1979 period of Khmer Rouge rule.

During the past five years, Cambodia has enjoyed much more political stability and territorial

unity than for decades.   In the 2003 National Assembly Elections, to which New Zealand sent

election observers, violence and intimidation was less present than in previous elections and the

process was generally considered to be credible.  Although the CPP received a simple majority,

it did not receive the two-thirds then required constitutionally to rule in its own right. 

King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated the throne in late 2004 and Norodom Sihamoni formally

succeeded his father in October 2004- an outcome that was warmly welcomed by the Cambodian

people.

A simple look into the history of Cambodia suggests that it is no different form what Nepal looks

like with the decade long civil war and political history. Looking into the culture and heritage,

Cambodia also is a lot similar to Nepal with its ancient history dating back to centuries.

Heritage Watch seeks to:

Create through tourism greater public awareness about Cambodia’s fascinating heritage.

Discourage heritage destruction and the illegal trade of antiquities.

Bring together the private, public and non-government sectors in a nationwide campaign

of collaboration and cooperation.

Encourage and highlight responsible tourism.

Encourage businesses to promote the arts, culture, heritage and development projects in

Cambodia.

Promote Heritage Watch principles directly to the Cambodian community.

A very similar organization can be started here following the similar footsteps of Heritage watch.

The approach not only provides a stepping stone for us to follow but also a practical role model

for the tourism sector as to what can be achieved when efforts are coordinated across the whole

sector of NGO’s and government agencies. This will not only be a sector of the government but

of the people where the local communities have the opportunity to establish tourism businesses

at heritage sites to benefit the standard of economy. Not only the development in economy but if

the businesses can make good money through the heritage sites then they will be compelled to

preserve it as well because of their benefits.

Nepal being a route to smuggle a lot of artifacts and drugs this type of organization will also act

as an watchdog which can actually help in preventing these types of illicit activities.

Due to the significant contribution of Heritage Watch towards protection of Cambodia’s cultural

heritage, tourism promotion and economic development that is sustainable and ‘heritage

friendly’ with the co-ordinated approach that provided a practical role model for the tourism, it

was nominated for Destination Award of WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.