Sustainable tourism in Cambodia is taking shape progressively on the ground. In Siem Reap, a recent Asia My Way partner meet-up offered a concrete look at how guides, drivers and local teams are adapting to new traveller expectations and sustainability challenges.
In April 2026, during the Khmer New Year period, Asia My Way organised a regional Partner Meet-Up in Siem Reap, bringing together guides, drivers, travel experts and operational teams from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
Far from a traditional conference format, the objective was simple: create space for honest conversations about what is happening on the ground, from traveller expectations and operational realities to sustainability challenges and the future of travel in Cambodia.
Around forty participants joined the event, held partly at the Koulen Central Hotel and later continued during an informal gathering at the Asia My Way office in Siem Reap. The atmosphere was intentionally collaborative rather than hierarchical. Drivers, guides, operations staff and sales teams were all encouraged to speak openly and share feedback from their daily experience in the field.
Sustainable tourism beyond theory
One of the central themes of the meet-up was sustainability. Not as an abstract concept, but as something operational teams confront every day.
Asia My Way in Cambodia is currently progressing toward full Travelife certification in 2026, after already reaching Travelife Partner status.
But discussions during the event also highlighted a reality often absent from sustainability conversations: responsible tourism in Southeast Asia can only exist through constant adaptation to local realities that are themselves continuously evolving.
Electric vehicles, for example, are increasingly visible across the region. Cambodia itself recently introduced incentives to accelerate EV adoption.
Yet drivers also explained the current limitations they still face outside major urban centres: insufficient charging infrastructure, limited technical support and operational constraints for long-distance journeys.
The same pragmatic discussions emerged around plastic reduction.
Reusable bottles and refill systems are already being implemented across many itineraries, but field teams raised practical concerns linked to water temperature, hygiene perception, storage logistics and traveller habits in tropical conditions.
Rather than ignoring these difficulties, the objective of the meet-up was precisely to address them collectively and identify realistic solutions adapted to the realities of the destination.
As Manith Oeu, Operations Manager and Sustainability Coordinator for Cambodia, explained during the discussions, sustainability can only progress if it remains practical, understandable and reassuring for both travellers and local teams.
The human side of travel operations
Beyond sustainability itself, another important topic emerged repeatedly throughout the day: the central role guides, drivers and travel experts play in how travellers experience a journey.
Traveller satisfaction feedback shared during the meet-up repeatedly highlighted the central role guides, drivers and travel experts play throughout the journey.
A well-timed break after a visit in the heat.
A driver adapting the pace of a long journey.
A guide anticipating expectations before frustrations appear.
These small operational details rarely appear in brochures, yet they often define how a trip is ultimately experienced.
The discussions also reinforced an important internal philosophy within Asia My Way: quality travel experiences rely on coordination between multiple people working behind the scenes: travel experts, operations teams, guides, drivers and local suppliers alike.
For many team members, the event itself also became a moment of professional growth. Several local staff who were initially reluctant to speak publicly eventually presented workshops and shared operational feedback in front of the entire group. Something highlighted internally as an important step in strengthening local collaboration and confidence.
Cambodia in transition
The conversations held during the meet-up also reflected broader changes currently shaping tourism in Cambodia.
While Angkor remains the country’s flagship destination, the market is progressively diversifying toward slower travel, secondary destinations, community-based tourism and green season experiences.
At the same time, Cambodia’s tourism recovery remains uneven compared to neighbouring countries, with international arrivals still below pre-pandemic levels and external geopolitical tensions continuing to influence traveller perceptions.
For Asia My Way, these changes reinforce the relevance of a long-term approach focused on flexibility, local immersion and operational quality rather than volume alone.
Building responsible travel collectively
Ultimately, the Cambodia Partner Meet-Up was not about announcing major transformations overnight.
It was about listening, comparing perspectives from the field, understanding constraints honestly. And continuing to move forward collectively.
Because responsible tourism is rarely built through isolated decisions. It emerges progressively, through thousands of operational choices, discussions and adjustments made every day by the people who bring journeys to life on the ground.
And in Cambodia, that movement is already underway.
👉 Read also: In Siem Reap, sustainable tourism is taking root in minds and blossoming within communities
