Preah Vihear Temple, one of Cambodia’s most important World Heritage sites, has suffered extensive and unprecedented damage following armed clashes in 2025, according to a new assessment by UNESCO and ICOMOS. The findings were released in Paris on September 9, 2026, after a joint mission visited the historic site from March 1 to 6, 2026, to assess the condition of the temple and surrounding facilities.
The assessment documented 142 damaged areas linked to attacks in July 2025 and another 420 damaged areas following assaults in December. The scale of destruction has raised serious concerns about the temple’s integrity, authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value, which are fundamental to its status as a World Heritage site.
“A new UNESCO and ICOMOS assessment has described the damage suffered by Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple during the 2025 armed clashes as unprecedented, with no area of the site spared. The assessment identified hundreds of damaged areas affecting the temple, infrastructure and tourism facilities, placing the World Heritage site under serious and specific danger. Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has also warned that the actual damage could be significantly greater than previously reported. Beyond the immediate destruction, the findings highlight the wider vulnerability of cultural heritage during armed conflict and the potential for irreversible losses. Cambodia has stressed that protecting Preah Vihear requires respect for international law and stronger safeguards for cultural heritage during periods of conflict.”
UNESCO and ICOMOS Document Hundreds of Damaged Areas
The joint UNESCO and ICOMOS mission assessed Preah Vihear between March 1 and 6, 2026, following the armed clashes that affected the site in 2025. Its assessment identified 142 damaged areas associated with attacks in July and a further 420 areas affected after assaults in December.
The report described the scale of destruction as “unprecedented” when compared with previous conflicts and stated that there was “no area spared.” The findings indicate that the impact was not limited to individual sections of the historic temple but affected the wider World Heritage property.
The scale of the reported damage is significant for Cambodia’s cultural heritage sector and for the future management of Preah Vihear. Conservation work at a World Heritage site requires careful assessment to ensure that restoration does not compromise the authenticity and historical character that make the site internationally significant.
Preah Vihear’s World Heritage Value Faces Serious Threat
The assessment concluded that the temple’s integrity, authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value had been severely compromised. These characteristics are central to Preah Vihear’s recognition as a World Heritage site and represent values that extend beyond Cambodia itself.
The report classified Preah Vihear as being under “serious and specific danger” and called for urgent conservation measures. The designation underlines the need for immediate attention to the condition of the site and highlights the importance of protecting remaining structures and heritage features from further deterioration.
For Cambodia, the issue also has a wider tourism dimension. Preah Vihear is an important cultural destination, and damage to its physical structures could affect visitor experiences, tourism infrastructure and the long term development of the surrounding destination. Protecting the site therefore has cultural, historical and economic importance.
Damage Extends Beyond the Temple Structures
The UNESCO and ICOMOS assessment found that damage was not confined to the historic temple itself. Infrastructure and tourism facilities were also affected by the conflict, widening the challenge facing conservation and eventual tourism recovery.
This broader damage means restoration efforts may need to consider the entire visitor environment rather than focusing solely on the ancient structures. Tourism facilities and supporting infrastructure are important to providing safe and appropriate access for visitors while ensuring that conservation priorities remain protected.
The condition of these facilities also matters to local communities and businesses that depend on tourism activity. A functioning heritage destination can support tourism services, accommodation, transportation, local commerce and employment, making heritage protection closely connected to the economic interests surrounding the site.
Cambodia Had Already Warned of Greater Damage
Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoung Sakuna, warned in March that the extent of the damage was much greater than previously indicated. Her warning came after the National Authority for Preah Vihear had reported 562 cases of damage.
The latest UNESCO and ICOMOS assessment provides further evidence of the seriousness of the situation. The findings demonstrate the importance of independent technical assessments when determining the condition of heritage sites affected by conflict and establishing appropriate conservation priorities.
“All countries have a responsibility to protect cultural heritage,” she said, citing the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 1954 Hague Convention on safeguarding cultural property during armed conflict.
Cultural Heritage Protection Is an International Responsibility
The findings from Preah Vihear underline a broader principle of international heritage protection. Cultural sites are not only national assets but can also hold value for humanity as a whole, making their protection particularly important when armed conflict threatens historic structures.
UNESCO and ICOMOS have highlighted the vulnerability of cultural heritage in conflict zones and the possibility of irreversible losses. Once historic structures, artistic elements and archaeological features are destroyed, recreating them exactly may be impossible.
For Cambodia, the protection of Preah Vihear therefore involves both national conservation responsibilities and obligations under international frameworks. Respect for international law and the protection of cultural property during armed clashes remain central to Cambodia’s position on safeguarding the site.
Conservation Could Shape Preah Vihear’s Tourism Future
The call for urgent conservation measures comes at a critical point for the future of Preah Vihear as a cultural and tourism destination. Restoring damaged areas while preserving authenticity will require careful planning, specialist expertise and sustained attention to the condition of the World Heritage property.
The challenge is particularly important because tourism depends on the preservation of the heritage that attracts visitors in the first place. Effective conservation can help protect Cambodia’s historical legacy while creating the foundation for the eventual strengthening of tourism activity around Preah Vihear.
For businesses and investors involved in Cambodia’s cultural tourism sector, the situation also demonstrates why heritage protection and tourism development must move together. Sustainable tourism depends on maintaining the cultural assets that give destinations their identity and long term appeal.
Protecting Preah Vihear Means Protecting Cambodia’s Heritage
The UNESCO and ICOMOS assessment presents a serious warning about the consequences of armed conflict for Cambodia’s cultural heritage. With hundreds of damaged areas documented and the temple’s integrity, authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value severely compromised, Preah Vihear now faces an urgent conservation challenge.
The temple’s future will depend on effective protection, careful restoration and continued respect for international heritage protection principles. Beyond its importance as a World Heritage site, Preah Vihear represents part of Cambodia’s history and cultural identity. Preserving it is therefore not simply about repairing damaged structures. It is about ensuring that future generations can experience and understand a heritage whose value extends far beyond the boundaries of the site itself.