Legal framework

To give itself the means to operate effectively in the field, the Department of Tourism has seen to the drafting and introduction of a number of regulations:

- A circular on the management of free park entrance tickets, signed by the Minister of State, the line ministry of the APSARA Authority, and the Minister of Economy and Finance which was given a large distribution through the national newspaper. It sets forth the criteria for the granting of unpaid access to the temples and cuts down on the issuing of complementary tickets.
- A set of recommendations for visitors has already appeared in the form of folders given to visitors by the DRS and its contents will also be displayed on information panels posted at the ticket booths and in front of the monuments.
- Standard domain occupancy and film shooting contracts have been prepared, based on a contract used in France for the management of shows and the making of motion pictures, videos and picture taking. Such contracts have been in use since the year 2000.
- Numerous rules for the internal management of the department have also been written up.
- The visitor regulations have been appproved by the different departments since July 2001 and are now in the process of being finalized by the Chairman.

Other basic pieces of legislation for management of the site will very soon be submitted to the technical directorates and concerned provincial authorities for their consideration:

- A circular on the obligations of tour guides operating in the monuments, developed by the provincial authorities in charge of tourism and the APSARA Authority.
- Traffic regulations for the park.
- Tour operator regulations (travel agencies, guides, etc...).
- Regulations to protect the name and corporate image of Angkor now being drafted with the assistance of UNESCO.
- Information documents for visitors.

It must be pointed out that the regulations governing tour operators require the passing of a tourism law by the government. This law will provide the basis for developing further legislation for the management and supervision of the various tourism-related trades.