Background
Land-use planning in heritage tourism zones combines spatial regulation, local settlement management, and conservation controls to balance heritage protection with community livelihoods. The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) organised consultations on village land-use plans and land-use conditions for Zones 1 and 2 of the Angkor World Heritage tourism area on 22 September 2026.
The draft unified village land-use plan covers 114 villages and a territorial extent of 401 square kilometres within the Angkor heritage zone. Representatives of UNESCO and the French and Japanese embassies, acting as ICC Angkor co-chairs, participated in the consultations and evaluated Cambodia’s implementation work on the draft plans.
Key Developments
MLMUPC reported that it produced a consolidated draft plan through prior consultations among residents, provincial land authorities and the APSARA National Authority. The ministry sought agreement with ICC Angkor co-chairs to move the village land-use plan toward official operational status for Zones 1 and 2 of the Angkor tourism area.
Institutional Role
MLMUPC led the drafting and consultation process for village-level land-use rules within the Angkor heritage footprint. The APSARA National Authority and local land authorities participated in preparing the unified plan, while UNESCO and ICC Angkor co-chairs provided external appraisal and partnership support during the consultative process.
Operational Implications
The consultations focused on formalising land-use conditions and agreement among residents and authorities prior to any implementation steps. UNESCO and ICC Angkor co-chairs formally recognised Cambodia’s efforts to address long-standing planning complexities within the Angkor zones during the consultative session on 22 September 2026.
Source
Ministry press release and consultation notice: MLMUPC Facebook post, 22 September 2026 — https://www.facebook.com/mlmupc.pressteam/posts/pfbid02Kaeo94bBVpdsUGF94B18a1fzxaoxBSmv1TKyL524doarkY1VfrqP6cJwyMW3pokpl
