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Siem Reap’s famed Pub Street area will soon host 50 security cameras. It is another change in what is now a global tourism phenomenon. For some though, it reflects good times that outwore their welcome.

According to Deputy Governor Ly Samreth, the security cameras are needed to improve the tourism experience for the 5,000 and 7,000 people visiting Siem Reap each day with more than half visiting the Pub Street area.

The once sleepy French colonial town has always been a stopping off point for visitors to the Angkor temples. But the old dusty streets of beer bars and backpacker digs have transitioned into a nightly fairyland of neon eateries, boutique bars and retail stretching from Pub Street and the Old Market to the Night Market across the river.  It is all chatty noise and barbeque smells among tourists, tired of temple touring, happily elbowing their way to find the right restaurant, the right bar.

This is tourism boom town. With Siem Reap and Angkor Wat high on the list of global traveller ‘must sees’, the city’s 417 hotels with 17,000 rooms are being pressed to meet Cambodia’s tourism growth.  The first five months of this year saw Cambodia receiving 2.6 million foreign tourists – up 13.5 per cent on last year and on track to receive 6.1 million visitors this year, seven million by 2020 and 10 million by 2025.

According to 65 year-old Frenchman Bruno L-Hoste however, Pub Street has devoured itself.  Bruno settled in Siem Reap in 1995 and in 2001 opened the legendary Le Tigre de Papier restaurant in a down-at-heal street dubbed ‘Pub Street’ reflecting its appeal to a mainly backpacker market.

He and another Pub Street veteran, Alex Sutherland who launched the Angkor Wat Bar, plus one other, were the first to see the street’s potential to attract travellers taking advantage of the cheapest places to rent near the Old Market.

Bruno had the idea to seal off the street for parties, but it took 12 months to get a permit to host a New Year’s Eve function. After Angkor Wat Bar grew in popularity more bars and eateries opened and in 2004, when the legendary Temple Bar became a drawcard, Pub Street took off.

Today, the Street and surrounding areas are a tourism drawcard for young and old, affluent and the budget conscious. Something for everyone. Very family friendly, mostly walking or light traffic, secure:  The place to go for a carefree, great-value night out.

Expect US0.50 – $1 for a draught Anchor beer and superb Manhattan style hideaway bars like Miss Wong for the perfect meet up and cocktail. Excellent shopping for souvenirs and gifts and the prized Kampot pepper.  All shops take US dollars.  Free Wi-Fi everywhere.