Data analysis 45

data on tourist perceptions towards Angkor Heritage tourism of tourists from Japan and South Korea can be generalized. In addition, the relatively quick field survey possibly may not really reflect the general perceptions of all stakeholders. Field survey conducted in different seasons may result in data from different tourists who have different perceptions.

The research could not provide the distinction between local tourist perceptions and international tourist perceptions given the resources limitation. The research mainly focuses on the international tourists due to the fact that they are the majority and they have more impact on the local community culture and livelihood than the local tourists.

The tourism impacts might and probably extend beyond those impacts perceived by the local residents, tourists, and local experts. Sustainable heritage tourism is possibly based not only on the perceptions of the key players but also depends on the reality on the ground of the heritage site itself. In this thesis, it emphasizes the perceptions of the key stakeholders rather than the research site itself.

1.8. The outline of the thesis

In this chapter, I have introduced the conceptual framework regarding heritage tourism and the issues of sustainability, and stated the research problem, research objectives and questions. In addition, the chapter has described the methodology of the study, and the methods used to conduct it. The field interviews and questionnaires covered three target groups. The material from foreign tourists is used in chapter 5 on tourist perceptions. The material on the local community (local people living around the Angkor complexes) is used in chapter 6 on local perceptions. The information from government officials and experts, representatives from the private sector and local and foreign organizations in tourism development is used chapter 7 on expert perceptions.

Chapter 2 reviews the literature on tourism in Southeast Asia in general and Cambodia in particular. In particular, it considers the relevant studies on theories of heritage tourism in Southeast Asia. Relevant studies on the Angkor site are also reviewed. The relevant studies demonstrate that tourism is one of the major industries in the region. There is a strong link

between tourism and cultural identity. Heritage tourism has been developing at a rapid speed and the impacts are multidimensional and multifaceted. The main question raised by the existing studies is how to develop sustainable heritage tourism. In the case of Cambodia, few studies have been carried out on heritage tourism in Angkor but they do not provide data and analysis on the perceptions of tourists, local community, and experts in regard to the issues of sustainability.

Chapter 3 describes the historical background and attributes of the research site, the Angkor Heritage Tourist Site, by tracing the development of Angkor from its construction to the present day. Angkor history can be divided into four periods: Angkor under construction;

Angkor under siege; the disappearance and destruction of Angkor; and the Angkor Revival.

Moreover, the chapter provides background information on Angkor Park, which includes a short description of main temples in the park, the local communities, the local landscape, and the physical infrastructure. The detailed description of the temples and sites are provided in Appendix 3 in this thesis.

Chapter 4 provides an overview of the government policies in promoting tourism. It describes the tourism industry including tourism products and development, and examines the impacts of tourism on socio-economic development in Cambodia. This chapter argues that tourism development is one of the pillars of the Cambodian government policy in promoting socio-economic development and improving the image of Cambodian identity and culture. The impacts of tourism in Cambodia in general are both positive and negative. The good side of tourism in Cambodia is that it provides incomes for the government and local people through taxes, jobs, and other spillover effects from the tourist spending on other industries.

Chapter 5 examines the tourist experiences regarding Angkor heritage tourism. It attempts to determine relationship between tourist motivation and perceptions, the factors influencing tourist experiences and perceptions, and the level of tourist satisfaction.

Chapter 6 looks at the local perceptions and attitudes towards tourists and determines the impacts of Angkor tourism on the society, culture and economy of the local community. The local community is here defined as those local residents living around the Angkor site.

Chapter 7 investigates the policies and concerns of the expert group regarding the impacts of tourism on Angkor heritage site management. This chapter discusses current heritage and economic management policies and determines the effectiveness of the policies. It also assesses the environmental impacts of Angkor tourism and the policies in dealing with these impacts. For the purpose of this study, the environmental impacts include air and sound pollution from the traffic, garbage, water pollution, and ground water disturbance.

Chapter 8 summarizes the main points of the study, presents the findings, predicts the future, and makes policy recommendations. Methodological, theoretical, and empirical contributions of the study to the academic and policy world are the significant values of this thesis. Concepts on sustainable sustainable tourism will be provided in addition to the current literatures.

CHAPTER 2: HERITAGE TOURISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Introduction

This chapter reviews the literature concerning heritage tourism in Southeast Asia. It is divided into three sections: the general literature on tourism in Southeast Asia; heritage tourism in Southeast Asia; and heritage tourism in Cambodia. The objective of the chapter is to understand the research methods and findings of tourism studies in Southeast Asia particularly in Cambodia in order to determine the gaps in the existing literatures. The literatures can be used to develope conceptual background for the analysis of tourism in Cambodia especially Siem Reap town and Angkor Park.