Etnie, cultura, primitivismo: la rappresentazione dell'etnicita' nel turismo italiano in Cambogia

This contribution presents some considerations about the trends of Cambodian tourism market and Italian tourists interpretations of the so-called ethnic tourism in Cambodia (2000-2004), focussing both on the context of the North-Eastern provinces on the borders with Laos and Vietnam and on the attempts made by the Cambodian government to transform the traditional lifestyle of the floating villages nearby Siem Riep (on the Tonle Sap lake) into a touristic attraction. The analysis stems on the materials produced by tour operators (both in Italy catalogues and in Cambodia brochures and guides), as well as on accounts of Italian travellers who have visited the country between 2000 and 2002.