Photo Source (Angkor Wat Temple): ARUP
Angkor, the northern province of Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos, are the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and tourist destinations in South East Asia. As of 2019, 2.2 million and 742,000 travelers visited Siem Reap, the closest city to Angkor, and Luang Prabang, respectively. While the two areas are the lifeblood and key revenue generators for the national economies of Cambodia and Lao PDR, the increasing numbers of tourists and rapid urbanization, cause critical mobility challenges. Large carbon emitters such as motorbikes and tuk-tuks are dominant transport options and contaminate the air. Roads are not well paved to accommodate growing tourists. Unsafe and uncomfortable sidewalks threaten the safety of pedestrians and discourage walking and cycling.
The Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF) supported the development of two World Bank Reports through the Year 7 Grant - Green Mobility for Luang Prabang and Seam Reap ( TTL: Sombath Southivong, Senior Infrastructure Specialist, East Asia and Pacific Region) - to address the mobility challenges. The reports present the Green Mobility Strategy and land use policy recommendations which can help to minimize impacts on heritage and historic sites and handle increasing tourists and travel demand more sustainably. The Green Mobility Strategy seeks to reduce the impacts of transport-related carbon emissions and air pollution, introduce e-mobility infrastructure and services including electric tuk-tuks, and promote active mobility such as walking and cycling.
Read the recently published World Bank Reports and learn more about how Lao PDR and Cambodia promote
green mobility and protect their World Heritage Sites through sustainable transport.
i) Lao PDR: Fostering Green Mobility in Luang Prabang
ii) Cambodia: Fostering Green Mobility in Siem Reap