Siem Reap City - Riverside Area

New Flights, Fresh Energy, and Why the Market Should Be Watching

The signs have been building quietly, but unmistakably. Siem Reap is stepping into a new era. What was once seen purely as a heritage destination is now repositioning itself as a lifestyle hub, a wellness retreat, and increasingly, a real estate opportunity.

From strategic hospitality partnerships to global flight connectivity, recent milestones signal a stronger and more diverse future for the city. For developers, property seekers, and long-time observers of the Cambodian market, the message is clear: Siem Reap deserves fresh attention.

Global Access, Local Momentum

In June 2025, Emirates launched a new route connecting Dubai to Siem Reap via Bangkok, marking the return of wide-body aircraft service to the city. The move restores direct access from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and signals growing global confidence in Cambodia’s second city.

Welcomed with a water salute and covered in local and international media, the launch isn’t just about convenience, it’s a signal. Siem Reap is back on the radar for long-haul travelers, high-spending tourists, and global stakeholders.

Photo from timesaerospace.aero

From Resort Town to Lifestyle Destination

The Siem Reap of today is no longer centered on short-stay tourism alone. Long-stay living, wellness-focused communities, and lifestyle ownership are shaping demand in new ways.

A prime example is Angkor Grace Wellness Resort, now operating in partnership with TUI BLUE, one of the world’s most respected resort brands. The collaboration connects Siem Reap to a network of over 20 million travelers, 400 hotels, and 1,200 travel agencies worldwide. It’s a major brand milestone that amplifies the city’s visibility across European and Asian markets and brings more international attention to the idea of Siem Reap as a place to live, not just visit.

For buyers, it reinforces the long-term outlook. For residents and developers, it reflects the rising standard of lifestyle and wellness integration in Cambodian property.

Photos of Angkor Grace Wellness Resort

Luxury Villas and New Demand Signals

There’s a clear and growing appetite for landed luxury villas in Siem Reap, especially among buyers from Europe and Southeast Asian countries, seeking privacy, greenery, and long-term lifestyle value.

At IPS, we’re seeing consistent inquiries for villas that combine quality construction with features like private pools, gardens, natural surroundings, and architectural character. These buyers aren’t looking for volume stock, they’re looking for something that feels personal, peaceful, and permanent.

Villa around Golf course area

The challenge? Siem Reap’s supply of quality luxury villas is limited. While the city has no shortage of small guesthouses or local-style homes, high-end residences built to international standards with well-proportioned layouts, open-plan living, and resort-style amenities are still relatively rare.

This demand is especially noticeable in areas near golf courses, temples, and green zones where residents can enjoy a more relaxed pace of life. Whether for holiday use or long-term relocation, the interest in private homes that offer both lifestyle and design value continues to grow.

A City Investing in Itself

Beyond air travel, Siem Reap is reshaping its urban identity through thoughtful development and cultural enhancements:

• Urban revitalization: Districts such as Wat Bo Village are emerging as creative corridors, with boutique cafés, co-working spaces, new condo developments, and a growing crop of independent local brands signaling a shift toward community-driven urban renewal.
• Mixed-use innovation: Rose Apple Square now spans residential, co-living, commercial, coworking, and hospitality spaces, offering a dynamic live-work-play environment ideal for digital nomads, long-stay visitors, and local innovators.

Siem Reap House at Rose Apple Square - Biggest Co-working space in Siem Reap

• Lifestyle residential hubs: Bakong My Village, located just 15 minutes from central Siem Reap and a short walk from Bakong temple, invites visitors into an immersive village-style retreat. It features a restaurant, café, archery field, quad biking, ox cart rides, and guided cultural experiences, bridging heritage and leisure in a communal setting .
• Public space enhancements: As of mid-July 2025, the Siem Reap Riverfront Makeover, funded by KOICA, was completed, upgrading more than 5 km of riverbanks with walking paths, pedestrian bridges, landscaped seating areas, flood-control landscaping, and lighting. These improvements significantly enhance walkability and commercial appeal in central districts.
• Idea incubator platforms: Events like One Vision, One Siem Reap foster connections across tourism, tech, urban planning, and real estate, serving as important venues for idea-sharing and potential collaboration.

Together, these initiatives suggest more than just a tourism rebound. They indicate a strategic repositioning of Siem Reap. The city is evolving not only in visitor numbers, but in character and long-term purpose.

Why This Matters for the Market

While Phnom Penh continues to dominate Cambodia’s skyline, Siem Reap is quietly regaining strategic relevance. Improved accessibility, lifestyle-focused development, and a more diversified tourist economy all signal one thing: Siem Reap is worth watching again.

For property buyers, this means early-stage opportunity. For developers and stakeholders, it’s a window to build with purpose, serving not just tourists, but the growing segment of professionals and investors who see the city’s potential beyond Angkor.

If you’re looking at Cambodia beyond the capital, Siem Reap deserves a second look.

IPS Cambodia continues to monitor these shifts closely. And as more of the world lands in Siem Reap, we’re ready to help you land the right opportunity here.

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