Every weekend, Gen Z travelers can be seen flocking to
Siem Reap’s cafés, latte in one hand, phone in the other, capturing moments for
their social feeds. For this generation, a trip to Siem Reap is no longer just
about Angkor Wat. It’s about places, aesthetics, and moments that feel
authentic and are shareable.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, 368,000
people visited Siem Reap during the Water Festival in 2025, with 358,000
of the visitors being Cambodian—a 7% increase from last year.
Locals, especially young Gen Z, are choosing Siem Reap as their destination for
both festival celebrations and weekend getaways.
As Siem Reap rebuilds its tourism sector, local Gen Z
travelers are quietly shaping a new travel trend. Born between 1997 and 2012,
Gen Z values authenticity, creativity, aesthetic, and shareable experiences. Hooked
by visual storytelling and unique experiences, they are now driving demand for
coffee culture, outdoor activities, and agritourism, pushing the city beyond
its temple identity.
Rado, owner of Norm: In Coffee, said young
Cambodian travelers make up the majority of his customers. “There are both
young and older customers coming to our shop,” he explained. “But we see more
young customers, even since the beginning of our opening, 2 years ago.”
“They want aesthetic corners for
photos and new creative menus,” Rado said. For businesses, design and
atmosphere are no longer optional; they’re a backdrop for a memory saved to the
camera roll and shared on social media. That’s why Norm: In updates their space
constantly, with new angles and moods to match Gen Z’s aesthetic. “We take
inspiration from social media trends and combine them with our own preferences,”
he added. Rado and his co-founders, Gen Z themselves, design through the lens
of what they’d want to post. This highlights how businesses that invest in
design, flexible spaces, and content-driven experiences are outperforming
traditional tourism models.
The shift is also visible in transport trends. Motorbike
rental shops, once small and slow-moving, now display rows of sleek bikes. On weekends,
you’ll spot groups of young travelers riding in packs, friends, and couples
waving through the streets. For investors, this signals a growing demand for
smaller, high-experience concepts rather than large-scale developments. The
average rental price for a motorbike starts from $8/day to $85/day based
on the motorbike’s model.
Social media trends like “Life Hurts, Siem Reap Heals,”
the matcha-like green algae pond at Preah Khan temple, and countless
café-hopping videos have attracted hundreds of thousands of views online. These
trends have created a new emotional narrative for Siem Reap as a place to rest,
reconnect, and explore.
Moreover, Siem Reap thrives on community. Locals support
locals, and businesses grow through relationships as much as products. As Rado explained,
“If you want to open a business in Siem Reap, blend yourself with the community”.
“Here, people connect with people,” he added.
Gen Z may be reshaping the city’s tourism demand, but the heart of Siem Reap remains the same. Business succeeds where community, experience, and authenticity intersect. And this generation isn’t looking for big or fancy — they’re looking for meaningful, creative, and shareable experiences. That’s where the next wave of investment opportunities lies.